Modulators of PCSK9 expression

ABSTRACT

The present embodiments provide methods, compounds, and compositions useful for inhibiting PCSK9 expression, which may be useful for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a disease associated with PCSK9.

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the following U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/476,051 filed Mar. 24, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The present application is being filed along with a Sequence Listing in electronic format. The Sequence Listing is provided as a file entitled 200615-US-NP-SequenceListing_ST25.txt created Mar. 22, 2018, which is 431 kb in size. The information in the electronic format of the sequence listing is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present embodiments provide methods, compounds, and compositions useful for inhibiting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) expression, and in certain instances, reducing the amount of PCSK9 protein in a cell or animal, which can be useful for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a disease associated with PCSK9.

BACKGROUND

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is an enzyme with an important role in lipoprotein metabolism. Rare gain-of-function mutations in PCSK9 lead to a high LDL-C level and premature coronary heart disease, whereas loss-of-function variants lead to a low LDL-C level and a reduced incidence of coronary heart disease (Zhao et al., Am. J. Hum. Genet. 2006, 79: 514-523; Horton et al., J. Lipid Res. 2009, 50: Suppl: S172-S177). Therefore, PCSK9 is a well-validated target for LDL-choleserol-lowering therapy (Hooper et al., Expert Opin. Biol. Ther. 2013, 13: 429-435).

Antibodies for blocking PCSK9, Alirocumab and Evolocumab, have been demonstrated to reduce circulating PCSK9 levels and lower LDL-cholesterol levels but have a short duration of action, necessitating frequent subcutaneous injections (Zhang et al., BMC Med. 2015, 13: 123; Navarese et al., Ann. Intern. Med. 2015, 163: 40-51).

It is an object herein to provide compounds, methods, and pharmaceutical compositions for the improved treatment of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemias, mixed dyslipidemias, and hypercholesterolemia.

SUMMARY

Provided herein are compounds and methods for reducing the amount or activity of PCSK9 mRNA, and in certain embodiments, reducing the amount of PCSK9 protein in a cell or animal. In certain embodiments, the animal has a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the disease is dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the disease is mixed dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the disease is hypercholesterolemia. Certain compounds provided herein are directed to compounds and compositions that reduce LDL-cholesterol in an animal.

Certain embodiments provided herein are directed to potent and tolerable compounds and compositions useful for inhibiting PCSK9 expression, which can be useful for treating, preventing, ameliorating, or slowing progression of a cardiovascular disease. Certain embodiments provided herein are directed to compounds and compositions that are more potent or have greater therapeutic value than compounds publicly disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the embodiments, as claimed. Herein, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. As used herein, the use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the term “including” as well as other forms, such as “includes” and “included”, is not limiting.

The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. All documents, or portions of documents, cited in this application, including, but not limited to, patents, patent applications, articles, books, treatises, and GenBank and NCBI reference sequence records are hereby expressly incorporated by reference for the portions of the document discussed herein, as well as in their entirety.

It is understood that the sequence set forth in each SEQ ID NO in the examples contained herein is independent of any modification to a sugar moiety, an internucleoside linkage, or a nucleobase. As such, compounds defined by a SEQ ID NO may comprise, independently, one or more modifications to a sugar moiety, an internucleoside linkage, or a nucleobase. Compounds described by ISIS number indicate a combination of nucleobase sequence, chemical modification, and motif.

Definitions

Unless otherwise indicated, the following terms have the following meanings:

“2′-deoxynucleoside” means a nucleoside comprising 2′-H(H) furanosyl sugar moiety, as found in naturally occurring deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA). In certain embodiments, a 2′-deoxynucleoside may comprise a modified nucleobase or may comprise an RNA nucleobase (uracil).

“2′-O-methoxyethyl” (also 2′-MOE and 2′-O(CH₂)₂—OCH₃) refers to an O-methoxy-ethyl modification at the 2′ position of a furanosyl ring. A 2′-O-methoxyethyl modified sugar is a modified sugar.

“2′-MOE nucleoside” (also 2′-O-methoxyethyl nucleoside) means a nucleoside comprising a 2′-MOE modified sugar moiety.

“2′-substituted nucleoside” or “2-modified nucleoside” means a nucleoside comprising a 2′-substituted or 2′-modified sugar moiety. As used herein, “2′-substituted” or “2-modified” in reference to a sugar moiety means a sugar moiety comprising at least one 2′-substituent group other than H or OH.

“3′ target site” refers to the nucleotide of a target nucleic acid which is complementary to the 3′-most nucleotide of a particular compound.

“5′ target site” refers to the nucleotide of a target nucleic acid which is complementary to the 5′-most nucleotide of a particular compound.

“5-methylcytosine” means a cytosine with a methyl group attached to the 5 position.

“About” means within ±10% of a value. For example, if it is stated, “the compounds affected about 70% inhibition of PCSK9”, it is implied that PCSK9 levels are inhibited within a range of 60% and 80%.

“Administration” or “administering” refers to routes of introducing a compound or composition provided herein to an individual to perform its intended function. An example of a route of administration that can be used includes, but is not limited to parenteral administration, such as subcutaneous, intravenous, or intramuscular injection or infusion.

“Amelioration” refers to an improvement or lessening of at least one indicator, sign, or symptom of an associated disease, disorder, or condition. In certain embodiments, amelioration includes a delay or slowing in the progression or severity of one or more indicators of a condition or disease. The progression or severity of indicators may be determined by subjective or objective measures, which are known to those skilled in the art.

“Animal” refers to a human or non-human animal, including, but not limited to, mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, pigs, and non-human primates, including, but not limited to, monkeys and chimpanzees.

“Antisense activity” means any detectable and/or measurable activity attributable to the hybridization of an antisense compound to its target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, antisense activity is a decrease in the amount or expression of a target nucleic acid or protein encoded by such target nucleic acid compared to target nucleic acid levels or target protein levels in the absence of the antisense compound to the target.

“Antisense compound” means a compound comprising an oligonucleotide and optionally one or more additional features, such as a conjugate group or terminal group. Examples of antisense compounds include single-stranded and double-stranded compounds, such as, oligonucleotides, ribozymes, siRNAs, shRNAs, ssRNAs, and occupancy-based compounds.

“Antisense inhibition” means reduction of target nucleic acid levels in the presence of an antisense compound complementary to a target nucleic acid compared to target nucleic acid levels in the absence of the antisense compound.

“Antisense mechanisms” are all those mechanisms involving hybridization of a compound with target nucleic acid, wherein the outcome or effect of the hybridization is either target degradation or target occupancy with concomitant stalling of the cellular machinery involving, for example, transcription or splicing.

“Antisense oligonucleotide” means an oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence that is complementary to a target nucleic acid or region or segment thereof. In certain embodiments, an antisense oligonucleotide is specifically hybridizable to a target nucleic acid or region or segment thereof.

“Bicyclic nucleoside” or “BNA” means a nucleoside comprising a bicyclic sugar moiety. “Bicyclic sugar” or “bicyclic sugar moiety” means a modified sugar moiety comprising two rings, wherein the second ring is formed via a bridge connecting two of the atoms in the first ring thereby forming a bicyclic structure. In certain embodiments, the first ring of the bicyclic sugar moiety is a furanosyl moiety. In certain embodiments, the bicyclic sugar moiety does not comprise a furanosyl moiety.

“Branching group” means a group of atoms having at least 3 positions that are capable of forming covalent linkages to at least 3 groups. In certain embodiments, a branching group provides a plurality of reactive sites for connecting tethered ligands to an oligonucleotide via a conjugate linker and/or a cleavable moiety.

“Cell-targeting moiety” means a conjugate group or portion of a conjugate group that is capable of binding to a particular cell type or particular cell types.

“cEt” or “constrained ethyl” means a bicyclic furanosyl sugar moiety comprising a bridge connecting the 4′-carbon and the 2′-carbon, wherein the bridge has the formula: 4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′.

“cEt nucleoside” means a nucleoside comprising a cEt modified sugar moiety.

“Chemical modification” in a compound describes the substitutions or changes through chemical reaction, of any of the units in the compound relative to the original state of such unit. “Modified nucleoside” means a nucleoside having, independently, a modified sugar moiety and/or modified nucleobase. “Modified oligonucleotide” means an oligonucleotide comprising at least one modified internucleoside linkage, a modified sugar, and/or a modified nucleobase.

“Chemically distinct region” refers to a region of a compound that is in some way chemically different than another region of the same compound. For example, a region having 2′-O-methoxyethyl nucleotides is chemically distinct from a region having nucleotides without 2′-O-methoxyethyl modifications.

“Chimeric antisense compounds” means antisense compounds that have at least 2 chemically distinct regions, each position having a plurality of subunits.

“Cleavable bond” means any chemical bond capable of being split. In certain embodiments, a cleavable bond is selected from among: an amide, a polyamide, an ester, an ether, one or both esters of a phosphodiester, a phosphate ester, a carbamate, a di-sulfide, or a peptide.

“Cleavable moiety” means a bond or group of atoms that is cleaved under physiological conditions, for example, inside a cell, an animal, or a human.

“Complementary” in reference to an oligonucleotide means the nucleobase sequence of such oligonucleotide or one or more regions thereof matches the nucleobase sequence of another oligonucleotide or nucleic acid or one or more regions thereof when the two nucleobase sequences are aligned in opposing directions. Nucleobase matches or complementary nucleobases, as described herein, are limited to the following pairs: adenine (A) and thymine (T), adenine (A) and uracil (U), cytosine (C) and guanine (G), and 5-methyl cytosine (^(m)C) and guanine (G) unless otherwise specified. Complementary oligonucleotides and/or nucleic acids need not have nucleobase complementarity at each nucleoside and may include one or more nucleobase mismatches. By contrast, “fully complementary” or “100% complementary” in reference to oligonucleotides means that such oligonucleotides have nucleobase matches at each nucleoside without any nucleobase mismatches.

“Conjugate group” means a group of atoms that is attached to an oligonucleotide. Conjugate groups include a conjugate moiety and a conjugate linker that attaches the conjugate moiety to the oligonucleotide.

“Conjugate linker” means a group of atoms comprising at least one bond that connects a conjugate moiety to an oligonucleotide.

“Conjugate moiety” means a group of atoms that is attached to an oligonucleotide via a conjugate linker.

“Contiguous” in the context of an oligonucleotide refers to nucleosides, nucleobases, sugar moieties, or internucleoside linkages that are immediately adjacent to each other. For example, “contiguous nucleobases” means nucleobases that are immediately adjacent to each other in a sequence.

“Designing” or “Designed to” refer to the process of designing a compound that specifically hybridizes with a selected nucleic acid molecule.

“Differently modified” means chemical modifications or chemical substituents that are different from one another, including absence of modifications. Thus, for example, a MOE nucleoside and an unmodified DNA nucleoside are “differently modified,” even though the DNA nucleoside is unmodified. Likewise, DNA and RNA are “differently modified,” even though both are naturally-occurring unmodified nucleosides. Nucleosides that are the same but for comprising different nucleobases are not differently modified. For example, a nucleoside comprising a 2′-OMe modified sugar and an unmodified adenine nucleobase and a nucleoside comprising a 2′-OMe modified sugar and an unmodified thymine nucleobase are not differently modified.

“Double-stranded antisense compound” means an antisense compound comprising two oligomeric compounds that are complementary to each other and form a duplex, and wherein one of the two said oligomeric compounds comprises an oligonucleotide.

“Effective amount” means the amount of compound sufficient to effectuate a desired physiological outcome in an individual in need of the compound. The effective amount may vary among individuals depending on the health and physical condition of the individual to be treated, the taxonomic group of the individuals to be treated, the formulation of the composition, assessment of the individual's medical condition, and other relevant factors.

“Efficacy” means the ability to produce a desired effect.

“Expression” includes all the functions by which a gene's coded information is converted into structures present and operating in a cell. Such structures include, but are not limited to, the products of transcription and translation.

“Gapmer” means an oligonucleotide comprising an internal region having a plurality of nucleosides that support RNase H cleavage positioned between external regions having one or more nucleosides, wherein the nucleosides comprising the internal region are chemically distinct from the nucleoside or nucleosides comprising the external regions. The internal region may be referred to as the “gap” and the external regions may be referred to as the “wings.”

“Hybridization” means the annealing of oligonucleotides and/or nucleic acids. While not limited to a particular mechanism, the most common mechanism of hybridization involves hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleobases. In certain embodiments, complementary nucleic acid molecules include, but are not limited to, an antisense compound and a nucleic acid target. In certain embodiments, complementary nucleic acid molecules include, but are not limited to, an oligonucleotide and a nucleic acid target.

“Immediately adjacent” means there are no intervening elements between the immediately adjacent elements of the same kind (e.g. no intervening nucleobases between the immediately adjacent nucleobases).

“Individual” means a human or non-human animal selected for treatment or therapy.

“Inhibiting the expression or activity” refers to a reduction or blockade of the expression or activity relative to the expression of activity in an untreated or control sample and does not necessarily indicate a total elimination of expression or activity.

“Internucleoside linkage” means a group or bond that forms a covalent linkage between adjacent nucleosides in an oligonucleotide. “Modified internucleoside linkage” means any internucleoside linkage other than a naturally occurring, phosphate internucleoside linkage. Non-phosphate linkages are referred to herein as modified internucleoside linkages.

“Lengthened oligonucleotides” are those that have one or more additional nucleosides relative to an oligonucleotide disclosed herein, e.g. a parent oligonucleotide.

“Linked nucleosides” means adjacent nucleosides linked together by an internucleoside linkage.

“Linker-nucleoside” means a nucleoside that links an oligonucleotide to a conjugate moiety. Linker-nucleosides are located within the conjugate linker of a compound. Linker-nucleosides are not considered part of the oligonucleotide portion of a compound even if they are contiguous with the oligonucleotide.

“Mismatch” or “non-complementary” means a nucleobase of a first oligonucleotide that is not complementary to the corresponding nucleobase of a second oligonucleotide or target nucleic acid when the first and second oligonucleotides are aligned. For example, nucleobases including but not limited to a universal nucleobase, inosine, and hypoxanthine, are capable of hybridizing with at least one nucleobase but are still mismatched or non-complementary with respect to nucleobase to which it hybridized. As another example, a nucleobase of a first oligonucleotide that is not capable of hybridizing to the corresponding nucleobase of a second oligonucleotide or target nucleic acid when the first and second oligonucleotides are aligned is a mismatch or non-complementary nucleobase.

“Modulating” refers to changing or adjusting a feature in a cell, tissue, organ or organism. For example, modulating PCSK9 RNA can mean to increase or decrease the level of PCSK9 RNA and/or PCSK9 protein in a cell, tissue, organ or organism. A “modulator” effects the change in the cell, tissue, organ or organism. For example, a PCSK9 compound can be a modulator that decreases the amount of PCSK9 RNA and/or PCSK9 protein in a cell, tissue, organ or organism.

“MOE” means methoxyethyl.

“Monomer” refers to a single unit of an oligomer. Monomers include, but are not limited to, nucleosides and nucleotides.

“Motif” means the pattern of unmodified and/or modified sugar moieties, nucleobases, and/or internucleoside linkages, in an oligonucleotide.

“Natural” or “naturally occurring” means found in nature.

“Non-bicyclic modified sugar” or “non-bicyclic modified sugar moiety” means a modified sugar moiety that comprises a modification, such as a substituent, that does not form a bridge between two atoms of the sugar to form a second ring.

“Nucleic acid” refers to molecules composed of monomeric nucleotides. A nucleic acid includes, but is not limited to, ribonucleic acids (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA), single-stranded nucleic acids, and double-stranded nucleic acids.

“Nucleobase” means a heterocyclic moiety capable of pairing with a base of another nucleic acid. As used herein a “naturally occurring nucleobase” is adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), uracil (U), and guanine (G). A “modified nucleobase” is a naturally occurring nucleobase that is chemically modified. A “universal base” or “universal nucleobase” is a nucleobase other than a naturally occurring nucleobase and modified nucleobase, and is capable of pairing with any nucleobase.

“Nucleobase sequence” means the order of contiguous nucleobases in a nucleic acid or oligonucleotide independent of any sugar or internucleoside linkage.

“Nucleoside” means a compound comprising a nucleobase and a sugar moiety. The nucleobase and sugar moiety are each, independently, unmodified or modified. “Modified nucleoside” means a nucleoside comprising a modified nucleobase and/or a modified sugar moiety. Modified nucleosides include abasic nucleosides, which lack a nucleobase.

“Oligomeric compound” means a compound comprising a single oligonucleotide and optionally one or more additional features, such as a conjugate group or terminal group.

“Oligonucleotide” means a polymer of linked nucleosides each of which can be modified or unmodified, independent one from another. Unless otherwise indicated, oligonucleotides consist of 8-80 linked nucleosides. “Modified oligonucleotide” means an oligonucleotide, wherein at least one sugar, nucleobase, or internucleoside linkage is modified. “Unmodified oligonucleotide” means an oligonucleotide that does not comprise any sugar, nucleobase, or internucleoside modification.

“Parent oligonucleotide” means an oligonucleotide whose sequence is used as the basis of design for more oligonucleotides of similar sequence but with different lengths, motifs, and/or chemistries. The newly designed oligonucleotides may have the same or overlapping sequence as the parent oligonucleotide.

“Parenteral administration” means administration through injection or infusion. Parenteral administration includes subcutaneous administration, intravenous administration, intramuscular administration, intraarterial administration, intraperitoneal administration, or intracranial administration, e.g. intrathecal or intracerebroventricular administration.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent” means any substance suitable for use in administering to an individual. For example, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier can be a sterile aqueous solution, such as PBS or water-for-injection.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable salts” means physiologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds, such as oligomeric compounds or oligonucleotides, i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent compound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto.

“Pharmaceutical agent” means a compound that provides a therapeutic benefit when administered to an individual.

“Pharmaceutical composition” means a mixture of substances suitable for administering to an individual. For example, a pharmaceutical composition may comprise one or more compounds or salt thereof and a sterile aqueous solution.

“Phosphorothioate linkage” means a modified phosphate linkage in which one of the non-bridging oxygen atoms is replaced with a sulfur atom. A phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage is a modified internucleoside linkage.

“Phosphorus moiety” means a group of atoms comprising a phosphorus atom. In certain embodiments, a phosphorus moiety comprises a mono-, di-, or tri-phosphate, or phosphorothioate.

“Portion” means a defined number of contiguous (i.e., linked) nucleobases of a nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, a portion is a defined number of contiguous nucleobases of a target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, a portion is a defined number of contiguous nucleobases of an oligomeric compound.

“Prevent” refers to delaying or forestalling the onset, development or progression of a disease, disorder, or condition for a period of time from minutes to indefinitely.

“Prodrug” means a compound in a form outside the body which, when administered to an individual, is metabolized to another form within the body or cells thereof. In certain embodiments, the metabolized form is the active, or more active, form of the compound (e.g., drug). Typically conversion of a prodrug within the body is facilitated by the action of an enzyme(s) (e.g., endogenous or viral enzyme) or chemical(s) present in cells or tissues, and/or by physiologic conditions.

“Reduce” means to bring down to a smaller extent, size, amount, or number.

“RefSeq No.” is a unique combination of letters and numbers assigned to a sequence to indicate the sequence is for a particular target transcript (e.g., target gene). Such sequence and information about the target gene (collectively, the gene record) can be found in a genetic sequence database. Genetic sequence₌databases include the NCBI Reference Sequence database, GenBank, the European Nucleotide Archive, and the DNA Data Bank of Japan (the latter three forming the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration or INSDC).

“Region” is defined as a portion of the target nucleic acid having at least one identifiable structure, function, or characteristic.

“RNAi compound” means an antisense compound that acts, at least in part, through RISC or Ago2, but not through RNase H, to modulate a target nucleic acid and/or protein encoded by a target nucleic acid. RNAi compounds include, but are not limited to double-stranded siRNA, single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), and microRNA, including microRNA mimics.

“Segments” are defined as smaller or sub-portions of regions within a nucleic acid.

“Side effects” means physiological disease and/or conditions attributable to a treatment other than the desired effects. In certain embodiments, side effects include injection site reactions, liver function test abnormalities, renal function abnormalities, liver toxicity, renal toxicity, central nervous system abnormalities, myopathies, and malaise. For example, increased aminotransferase levels in serum may indicate liver toxicity or liver function abnormality. For example, increased bilirubin may indicate liver toxicity or liver function abnormality.

“Single-stranded” in reference to a compound means the compound has only one oligonucleotide. “Self-complementary” means an oligonucleotide that at least partially hybridizes to itself. A compound consisting of one oligonucleotide, wherein the oligonucleotide of the compound is self-complementary, is a single-stranded compound. A single-stranded compound may be capable of binding to a complementary compound to form a duplex.

“Sites” are defined as unique nucleobase positions within a target nucleic acid.

“Specifically hybridizable” refers to an oligonucleotide having a sufficient degree of complementarity between the oligonucleotide and a target nucleic acid to induce a desired effect, while exhibiting minimal or no effects on non-target nucleic acids. In certain embodiments, specific hybridization occurs under physiological conditions.

“Specifically inhibit” with reference to a target nucleic acid means to reduce or block expression of the target nucleic acid while exhibiting fewer, minimal, or no effects on non-target nucleic acids. Reduction does not necessarily indicate a total elimination of the target nucleic acid's expression.

“Standard cell assay” means assay(s) described in the Examples and reasonable variations thereof.

“Standard in vivo experiment” means the procedure(s) described in the Example(s) and reasonable variations thereof.

“Sugar moiety” means an unmodified sugar moiety or a modified sugar moiety. “Unmodified sugar moiety” or “unmodified sugar” means a 2′-OH(H) furanosyl moiety, as found in RNA (an “unmodified RNA sugar moiety”), or a 2′-H(H) moiety, as found in DNA (an “unmodified DNA sugar moiety”). Unmodified sugar moieties have one hydrogen at each of the 1′, 3′, and 4′ positions, an oxygen at the 3′ position, and two hydrogens at the 5′ position. “Modified sugar moiety” or “modified sugar” means a modified furanosyl sugar moiety or a sugar surrogate. “Modified furanosyl sugar moiety” means a furanosyl sugar comprising a non-hydrogen substituent in place of at least one hydrogen of an unmodified sugar moiety. In certain embodiments, a modified furanosyl sugar moiety is a 2′-substituted sugar moiety. Such modified furanosyl sugar moieties include bicyclic sugars and non-bicyclic sugars.

“Sugar surrogate” means a modified sugar moiety having other than a furanosyl moiety that can link a nucleobase to another group, such as an internucleoside linkage, conjugate group, or terminal group in an oligonucleotide. Modified nucleosides comprising sugar surrogates can be incorporated into one or more positions within an oligonucleotide and such oligonucleotides are capable of hybridizing to complementary compounds or nucleic acids.

“PCSK9” means any nucleic acid or protein of PCSK9. “PCSK9 nucleic acid” means any nucleic acid encoding PCSK9. For example, in certain embodiments, a PCSK9 nucleic acid includes a DNA sequence encoding PCSK9, an RNA sequence transcribed from DNA encoding PCSK9 (including genomic DNA comprising introns and exons) and an mRNA sequence encoding PCSK9. “PCSK9 mRNA” means an mRNA encoding a PCSK9 protein. The target may be referred to in either upper or lower case.

“PCSK9 specific inhibitor” refers to any agent capable of specifically inhibiting PCSK9 RNA and/or PCSK9 protein expression or activity at the molecular level. For example, PCSK9 specific inhibitors include nucleic acids (including antisense compounds), peptides, antibodies, small molecules, and other agents capable of inhibiting the expression of PCSK9 RNA and/or PCSK9 protein.

“Target gene” refers to a gene encoding a target.

“Targeting” means the specific hybridization of a compound to a target nucleic acid in order to induce a desired effect.

“Target nucleic acid,” “target RNA,” “target RNA transcript” and “nucleic acid target” all mean a nucleic acid capable of being targeted by compounds described herein.

“Target region” means a portion of a target nucleic acid to which one or more compounds is targeted.

“Target segment” means the sequence of nucleotides of a target nucleic acid to which a compound is targeted. “5′ target site” refers to the 5′-most nucleotide of a target segment. “3′ target site” refers to the 3′-most nucleotide of a target segment.

“Terminal group” means a chemical group or group of atoms that is covalently linked to a terminus of an oligonucleotide.

“Therapeutically effective amount” means an amount of a compound, pharmaceutical agent, or composition that provides a therapeutic benefit to an individual.

“Treat” refers to administering a compound or pharmaceutical composition to an animal in order to effect an alteration or improvement of a disease, disorder, or condition in the animal.

CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Certain embodiments provide methods, compounds and compositions for inhibiting PCSK9 expression.

Certain embodiments provide compounds targeted to a PCSK9 nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, the PCSK9 nucleic acid has the sequence set forth in RefSeq or GENBANK Accession No. NM_174936.3 and GENBANK Accession No. NC_000001.11 truncated from nucleotides 55036001 to 55068000 (incorporated by reference, disclosed herein as SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively). In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded.

Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 9 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 9 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 10 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 10 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 11 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 11 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 11 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 12 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

In certain embodiments, the compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound.

Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 14 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded.

Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and complementary within nucleobases 6356-6371, 12843-12947, 12905-12948, 17681-17700, 19653-19673, 27626-27669, 27895-27949, and 28105-28136 of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein said modified oligonucleotide is at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or 100% complementary to SEQ ID NO: 2. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

Certain embodiments provide a compound comprising a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising a portion of at least 8 contiguous nucleobases complementary to an equal length portion of nucleobases 6356-6371, 12843-12947, 12905-12948, 17681-17700, 19653-19673, 27626-27669, 27895-27949, and 28105-28136 of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein said modified oligonucleotide is at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or 100% complementary to SEQ ID NO: 2. In certain embodiments, the compound is an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

In certain embodiments, compounds target a region of a PCSK9 nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, such compounds targeted to a region of a PCSK9 nucleic acid have a contiguous nucleobase portion that is complementary to an equal length nucleobase portion of the region. For example, the portion can be at least an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 contiguous nucleobase portion complementary to an equal length portion of a region recited herein. In certain embodiments, such compounds target the following nucleotide regions of SEQ ID NO: 2: 6356-6371, 12843-12947, 12905-12948, 17681-17700, 19653-19673, 27626-27669, 27895-27949, and 28105-28136. In certain embodiments, these compounds are antisense compounds, oligomeric compounds, or oligonucleotides.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having at least an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 contiguous nucleobase portion complementary to an equal length portion within nucleotides 6356-6371, 12909-12924, 17685-17700, 19658-19673, 27643-27658, 27906-27921, 27916-27931, 27917-27932, and 28107-28122 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and complementary within nucleotides 6356-6371, 12909-12924, 17685-17700, 19658-19673, 27643-27658, 27906-27921, 27916-27931, 27917-27932, and 28107-28122 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 contiguous nucleobase portion any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353.

In certain embodiments, compounds targeted to PCSK9 are ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. Out of over 1540 compounds that were screened as described in the Examples section below, ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681 emerged as the top lead compounds. In particular, ISIS 863633 exhibited the best combination of properties in terms of potency and tolerability out of over 1540 compounds.

In certain embodiments, any of the foregoing modified oligonucleotides comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage, at least one modified sugar, and/or at least one modified nucleobase.

In certain embodiments, any of the foregoing modified oligonucleotides comprises at least one modified sugar. In certain embodiments, at least one modified sugar comprises a 2′-O-methoxyethyl group. In certain embodiments, at least one modified sugar is a bicyclic sugar, such as a 4′-CH(CH3)-O-2′ group, a 4′-CH2-O-2′ group, or a 4′-(CH2)2-O-2′ group.

In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage, such as a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage.

In certain embodiments, any of the foregoing modified oligonucleotides comprises at least one modified nucleobase, such as 5-methylcytosine.

In certain embodiments, any of the foregoing modified oligonucleotides comprises:

-   -   a gap segment consisting of linked deoxynucleosides;     -   a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and     -   a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment and the 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises a modified sugar. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 14 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence consisting of the sequence recited in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of a modified oligonucleotide 16-80 linked nucleobases in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising the sequence recited in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353, wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment and the 3′ wing segment, wherein each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises a cEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide consists of 16-30 linked nucleosides. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide consists of 16 linked nucleosides.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of ISIS 863633 or salt thereof, having the following chemical structure:

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of ISIS 863633 or salt thereof, having the following chemical structure:

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises or consists of the sodium salt of ISIS 863633, having the following chemical structure:

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound or oligonucleotide can be at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% complementary to a nucleic acid encoding PCSK9.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises deoxyribonucleotides. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound is double-stranded and comprises ribonucleotides. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be 8 to 80, 10 to 30, 12 to 50, 13 to 30, 13 to 50, 14 to 30, 14 to 50, 15 to 30, 15 to 50, 16 to 30, 16 to 50, 17 to 30, 17 to 50, 18 to 22, 18 to 24, 18 to 30, 18 to 50, 19 to 22, 19 to 30, 19 to 50, or 20 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises or consists of an oligonucleotide.

In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide described herein and a conjugate group. In certain embodiments, the conjugate group is linked to the modified oligonucleotide at the 5′ end of the modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the conjugate group is linked to the modified oligonucleotide at the 3′ end of the modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the conjugate group comprises at least one N-Acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), at least two N-Acetylgalactosamines (GalNAcs), or at least three N-Acetylgalactosamines (GalNAcs).

In certain embodiments, compounds or compositions provided herein comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the salt is a sodium salt. In certain embodiments, the salt is a potassium salt.

In certain embodiments, the compounds or compositions as described herein are active by virtue of having at least one of an in vitro IC₅₀ of less than 5 μM, less than 4.5 μM, less than 4 μM, less than 3.5 μM, less than 3 μM, less than 2.5 μM, less than 2 μM, less than 1.5 μM, less than 1 μM, less than 0.9 μM, less than 0.8 μM, less than 0.7 μM, less than 0.6 μM, less than 0.5 μM, less than 0.4 μM, less than 0.3 μM, less than 0.2 μM, or less than 0.1 μM.

In certain embodiments, the compounds or compositions as described herein are highly tolerable as demonstrated by having at least one of an increase an alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) value of no more than 4 fold, 3 fold, or 2 fold over saline treated animals or an increase in liver, spleen, or kidney weight of no more than 30%, 20%, 15%, 12%, 10%, 5%, or 2% compared to control treated animals. In certain embodiments, the compounds or compositions as described herein are highly tolerable as demonstrated by having no increase of ALT or AST over control treated animals. In certain embodiments, the compounds or compositions as described herein are highly tolerable as demonstrated by having no increase in liver, spleen, or kidney weight over control animals.

Certain embodiments provide a composition comprising the compound of any of the aforementioned embodiments or any pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and at least one of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. In certain embodiments, the composition has a viscosity less than about 40 centipoise (cP), less than about 30 centipoise (cP), less than about 20 centipoise (cP), less than about 15 centipoise (cP), or less than about 10 centipoise (cP). In certain embodiments, the composition having any of the aforementioned viscosities comprises a compound provided herein at a concentration of about 100 mg/mL, about 125 mg/mL, about 150 mg/mL, about 175 mg/mL, about 200 mg/mL, about 225 mg/mL, about 250 mg/mL, about 275 mg/mL, or about 300 mg/mL. In certain embodiments, the composition having any of the aforementioned viscosities and/or compound concentrations has a temperature of room temperature or about 20° C., about 21° C., about 22° C., about 23° C., about 24° C., about 25° C., about 26° C., about 27° C., about 28° C., about 29° C., or about 30° C.

Certain Indications

Certain embodiments provided herein relate to methods of inhibiting PCSK9 expression, which can be useful for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a disease associated with PCSK9 in an individual, by administration of a compound that targets PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound can be a PCSK9 specific inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound, oligomeric compound, or oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9.

Examples of diseases associated with PCSK9 treatable, preventable, and/or ameliorable with the methods provided herein include a cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, mixed dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, a reduction in LDL cholesterol, and reduction in atherogenic apolipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)].

In certain embodiments, a method of treating, preventing, or ameliorating a disease associated with PCSK9 in an individual comprises administering to the individual a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor, thereby treating, preventing, or ameliorating the disease. In certain embodiments, the individual is identified as having or at risk of having a disease associated with PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the disease is a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an antisense compound targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide can be 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded or double-stranded. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is administered to the individual parenterally. In certain embodiments, administering the compound reduces LDL-cholesterol levels, reduces Lp(a) levels, induces LDL receptor (LDL-R) activity, and regulates LDL receptor-LDL-cholesterol homeostasis.

In certain embodiments, a method of treating, preventing, or ameliorating a cardiovascular disease comprises administering to the individual a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor, thereby treating, preventing, or ameliorating the cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the cardiovascular disease is dyslipidemia or hypercholesterolemia. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an antisense compound targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide can be 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded or double-stranded. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is administered to the individual parenterally. In certain embodiments, administering the compound reduces LDL-cholesterol levels. In certain embodiments, administering the compound reduces Lp(a) levels. In certain embodiments, administering the compound induces LDL receptor (LDL-R) activity. In certain embodiments, administering the compound regulates LDL receptor-LDL-cholesterol homeostasis.

In certain embodiments, a method of inhibiting expression of PCSK9 in an individual having, or at risk of having, a disease associated with PCSK9 comprises administering to the individual a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor, thereby inhibiting expression of PCSK9 in the individual. In certain embodiments, administering the compound inhibits expression of PCSK9 in the liver. In certain embodiments, the disease is a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having hypercholesterolemia. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having mixed dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an antisense compound targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide can be 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded or double-stranded. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is administered to the individual parenterally. In certain embodiments, administering the compound reduces LDL-cholesterol levels. In certain embodiments, administering the compound reduces Lp(a) levels. In certain embodiments, administering the compound induces LDL receptor (LDL-R) activity. In certain embodiments, administering the compound regulates LDL receptor-LDL-cholesterol homeostasis.

In certain embodiments, a method of inhibiting expression of PCSK9 in a cell comprises contacting the cell with a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor, thereby inhibiting expression of PCSK9 in the cell. In certain embodiments, the cell is a hepatocyte. In certain embodiments, the cell is in the liver. In certain embodiments, the cell is in the liver of an individual who has, or is at risk of having a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the cell is in the liver of an individual who has, or is at risk of having dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the cell is in the liver of an individual who has, or is at risk of having mixed dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the cell is in the liver of an individual who has, or is at risk of having hypercholesterolemia. In certain embodiments, administering the compound inhibits expression of PCSK9 in the liver. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having, a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having mixed dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having hypercholesterolemia. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an antisense compound targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide can be 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded or double-stranded. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound.

In certain embodiments, a method of reducing or inhibiting LDL-cholesterol levels, reducing or inhibiting Lp(a) levels, inducing LDL receptor (LDL-R) activity, or regulating LDL receptor-LDL-cholesterol homeostasis in the liver of an individual having, or at risk of having, a disease associated with PCSK9 comprises administering to the individual a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor, thereby reducing or inhibiting LDL-cholesterol and Lp(a) levels, inducing LDL receptor (LDL-R) activity, and regulating LDL receptor-LDL-cholesterol homeostasis in the liver of the individual. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having, a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having, dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having, mixed dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the individual has, or is at risk of having, hypercholesterolemia. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an antisense compound targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide can be 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded or double-stranded. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is administered to the individual parenterally. In certain embodiments, the individual is identified as having or at risk of having a disease associated with PCSK9.

Certain embodiments are drawn to a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor for use in treating a disease associated with PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the disease is a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the disease is dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the disease is mixed dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the disease is hypercholesterolemia In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an antisense compound targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide can be 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded or double-stranded. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the compound is administered to the individual parenterally.

Certain embodiments are drawn to a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor for use in reducing or inhibiting LDL-cholesterol, reducing or inhibiting Lp(a) levels, inducing LDL receptor (LDL-R) activity, and regulating LDL receptor-LDL-cholesterol homeostasis of an individual having or at risk of having a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the cardiovascular disease is dyslipidemia or hypercholesterolemia. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an antisense compound targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide can be 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded or double-stranded. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound.

Certain embodiments are drawn to use of a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor for the manufacture or preparation of a medicament for treating a disease associated with PCSK9. Certain embodiments are drawn to use of a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor for the preparation of a medicament for treating a disease associated with PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the disease is a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the disease is dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the disease is mixed dyslipidemia. In certain embodiments, the disease is hypercholesterolemia. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an antisense compound targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide can be 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded or double-stranded. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound.

Certain embodiments are drawn to use of a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor for the manufacture or preparation of a medicament for reducing or inhibiting LDL-cholesterol levels, reducing or inhibiting Lp(a) levels, inducing LDL receptor (LDL-R) activity, and regulating LDL receptor-LDL-cholesterol homeostasis of an individual having or at risk of having a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the cardiovascular disease is dyslipidemia or hypercholesterolemia. Certain embodiments are drawn to use of a compound comprising a PCSK9 specific inhibitor for the preparation of a medicament for reducing or inhibiting LDL-cholesterol levels, reducing or inhibiting Lp(a) levels, inducing LDL receptor (LDL-R) activity, and regulating LDL receptor-LDL-cholesterol homeostasis of an individual having or at risk of having a cardiovascular disease. In certain embodiments, the cardiovascular disease is dyslipidemia or hypercholesterolemia. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an antisense compound targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises an oligonucleotide targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of the nucleobase sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 80 linked nucleosides in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In certain embodiments, a compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide having a nucleobase sequence consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide can be 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the compound is ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be single-stranded or double-stranded. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the compound can be an antisense compound or oligomeric compound.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the compound can be targeted to PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises or consists of a modified oligonucleotide, for example a modified oligonucleotide 8 to 80 linked nucleosides in length, 10 to 30 linked nucleosides in length, 12 to 30 linked nucleosides in length, or 20 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100% complementary to any of the nucleobase sequences recited in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 1545-1550. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage, at least one modified sugar and/or at least one modified nucleobase. In certain embodiments, the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage, the modified sugar is a bicyclic sugar or a 2′-O-methoxyethyl, and the modified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide comprises a gap segment consisting of linked deoxynucleosides; a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides, wherein the gap segment is positioned immediately adjacent to and between the 5′ wing segment and the 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises a modified sugar.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 12 to 30, 15 to 30, 15 to 25, 15 to 24, 16 to 24, 17 to 24, 18 to 24, 19 to 24, 20 to 24, 19 to 22, 20 to 22, 16 to 20, or 17 or 20 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100% complementary to any of the nucleobase sequences recited in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 1545-1550. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage, at least one modified sugar and/or at least one modified nucleobase. In certain embodiments, the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage, the modified sugar is a bicyclic sugar or a 2′-O-methoxyethyl, and the modified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide comprises a gap segment consisting of linked 2′-deoxynucleosides; a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides, wherein the gap segment is positioned immediately adjacent to and between the 5′ wing segment and the 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises a modified sugar.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the compound comprises or consists of a modified oligonucleotide 14 to 30 linked nucleosides in length and having a nucleobase sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540, wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises:

-   -   a gap segment consisting of linked 2′-deoxynucleosides;     -   a 5′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides; and     -   a 3′ wing segment consisting of linked nucleosides;         wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing         segment and the 3′ wing segment and wherein each nucleoside of         each wing segment comprises a modified sugar.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the compound comprises or consists a modified oligonucleotide 16 to 80 linked nucleobases in length having a nucleobase sequence comprising or consisting of the sequence recited in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1016, 1528, 763, 1071, 1147, 1149, 1016, 955, 1195, and 353, wherein the modified oligonucleotide comprises

a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides;

a 5′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; and

a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides;

-   -   wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing         segment and the 3′ wing segment, wherein each nucleoside of each         wing segment comprises a cEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside         linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage; wherein each cytosine is         a 5-methylcytosine. In certain embodiments, the modified         oligonucleotide is 16-80 linked nucleosides in length. In         certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is 16-30         linked nucleosides in length.

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the compound comprises or consists of ISIS 863633 or salt thereof, having the following chemical structure:

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the compound comprises or consists of ISIS 863633 or salt thereof, having the following chemical structure:

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the compound comprises or consists of the sodium salt of ISIS 863633, having the following chemical structure:

In any of the foregoing methods or uses, the compound can be administered parenterally. For example, in certain embodiments the compound can be administered through injection or infusion. Parenteral administration includes subcutaneous administration, intravenous administration, intramuscular administration, intraarterial administration, intraperitoneal administration, or intracranial administration, e.g. intrathecal or intracerebroventricular administration.

Certain Compounds

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein can be antisense compounds. In certain embodiments, the antisense compound comprises or consists of an oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compound comprises a modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide has a nucleobase sequence complementary to that of a target nucleic acid.

In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises or consists of a modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide has a nucleobase sequence complementary to that of a target nucleic acid.

In certain embodiments, a compound or antisense compound is single-stranded. Such a single-stranded compound or antisense compound comprises or consists of an oligomeric compound. In certain embodiments, such an oligomeric compound comprises or consists of an oligonucleotide and optionally a conjugate group. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide is modified. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide of a single-stranded antisense compound or oligomeric compound comprises a self-complementary nucleobase sequence.

In certain embodiments, compounds are double-stranded. Such double-stranded compounds comprise a first modified oligonucleotide having a region complementary to a target nucleic acid and a second modified oligonucleotide having a region complementary to the first modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the modified oligonucleotide is an RNA oligonucleotide. In such embodiments, the thymine nucleobase in the modified oligonucleotide is replaced by a uracil nucleobase. In certain embodiments, compound comprises a conjugate group. In certain embodiments, one of the modified oligonucleotides is conjugated. In certain embodiments, both the modified oligonucleotides are conjugated. In certain embodiments, the first modified oligonucleotide is conjugated. In certain embodiments, the second modified oligonucleotide is conjugated. In certain embodiments, the first modified oligonucleotide is 12-30 linked nucleosides in length and the second modified oligonucleotide is 12-30 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, one of the modified oligonucleotides has a nucleobase sequence comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases of any of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540.

In certain embodiments, antisense compounds are double-stranded. Such double-stranded antisense compounds comprise a first oligomeric compound having a region complementary to a target nucleic acid and a second oligomeric compound having a region complementary to the first oligomeric compound. The first oligomeric compound of such double stranded antisense compounds typically comprises or consists of a modified oligonucleotide and optionally a conjugate group. The oligonucleotide of the second oligomeric compound of such double-stranded antisense compound may be modified or unmodified. Either or both oligomeric compounds of a double-stranded antisense compound may comprise a conjugate group. The oligomeric compounds of double-stranded antisense compounds may include non-complementary overhanging nucleosides.

Examples of single-stranded and double-stranded compounds include but are not limited to oligonucleotides, siRNAs, microRNA targeting oligonucleotides, and single-stranded RNAi compounds, such as small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), single-stranded siRNAs (ssRNAs), and microRNA mimics.

In certain embodiments, a compound described herein has a nucleobase sequence that, when written in the 5′ to 3′ direction, comprises the reverse complement of the target segment of a target nucleic acid to which it is targeted.

In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 10 to 30 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 12 to 30 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 12 to 22 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 14 to 30 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 14 to 20 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 15 to 30 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 15 to 20 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 16 to 30 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 16 to 20 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 17 to 30 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 17 to 20 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 18 to 30 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 18 to 21 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 18 to 20 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 20 to 30 linked subunits in length. In other words, such oligonucleotides are 12 to 30 linked subunits, 14 to 30 linked subunits, 14 to 20 subunits, 15 to 30 subunits, 15 to 20 subunits, 16 to 30 subunits, 16 to 20 subunits, 17 to 30 subunits, 17 to 20 subunits, 18 to 30 subunits, 18 to 20 subunits, 18 to 21 subunits, 20 to 30 subunits, or 12 to 22 linked subunits in length, respectively. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 14 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 16 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 17 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 18 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 19 linked subunits in length. In certain embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 20 linked subunits in length. In other embodiments, a compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 8 to 80, 12 to 50, 13 to 30, 13 to 50, 14 to 30, 14 to 50, 15 to 30, 15 to 50, 16 to 30, 16 to 50, 17 to 30, 17 to 50, 18 to 22, 18 to 24, 18 to 30, 18 to 50, 19 to 22, 19 to 30, 19 to 50, or 20 to 30 linked subunits. In certain such embodiments, the compound described herein comprises an oligonucleotide 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, or 80 linked subunits in length, or a range defined by any two of the above values. In some embodiments the linked subunits are nucleotides, nucleosides, or nucleobases.

In certain embodiments, the compound may further comprise additional features or elements, such as a conjugate group, that are attached to the oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, such compounds are antisense compounds. In certain embodiments, such compounds are oligomeric compounds. In embodiments where a conjugate group comprises a nucleoside (i.e. a nucleoside that links the conjugate group to the oligonucleotide), the nucleoside of the conjugate group is not counted in the length of the oligonucleotide.

In certain embodiments, compounds may be shortened or truncated. For example, a single subunit may be deleted from the 5′ end (5′ truncation), or alternatively from the 3′ end (3′ truncation). A shortened or truncated compound targeted to a PCSK9 nucleic acid may have two subunits deleted from the 5′ end, or alternatively may have two subunits deleted from the 3′ end, of the compound. Alternatively, the deleted nucleosides may be dispersed throughout the compound.

When a single additional subunit is present in a lengthened compound, the additional subunit may be located at the 5′ or 3′ end of the compound. When two or more additional subunits are present, the added subunits may be adjacent to each other, for example, in a compound having two subunits added to the 5′ end (5′ addition), or alternatively to the 3′ end (3′ addition), of the compound. Alternatively, the added subunits may be dispersed throughout the compound.

It is possible to increase or decrease the length of a compound, such as an oligonucleotide, and/or introduce mismatch bases without eliminating activity (Woolf et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1992, 89:7305-7309; Gautschi et al. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. March 2001, 93:463-471; Maher and Dolnick Nuc. Acid. Res. 1998, 16:3341-3358). However, seemingly small changes in oligonucleotide sequence, chemistry and motif can make large differences in one or more of the many properties required for clinical development (Seth et al. J. Med. Chem. 2009, 52, 10; Egli et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 16642).

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein are interfering RNA compounds (RNAi), which include double-stranded RNA compounds (also referred to as short-interfering RNA or siRNA) and single-stranded RNAi compounds (or ssRNA). Such compounds work at least in part through the RISC pathway to degrade and/or sequester a target nucleic acid (thus, include microRNA/microRNA-mimic compounds). As used herein, the term siRNA is meant to be equivalent to other terms used to describe nucleic acid molecules that are capable of mediating sequence specific RNAi, for example short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA), short interfering oligonucleotide, short interfering nucleic acid, short interfering modified oligonucleotide, chemically modified siRNA, post-transcriptional gene silencing RNA (ptgsRNA), and others. In addition, as used herein, the term “RNAi” is meant to be equivalent to other terms used to describe sequence specific RNA interference, such as post transcriptional gene silencing, translational inhibition, or epigenetics.

In certain embodiments, a compound described herein can comprise any of the oligonucleotide sequences targeted to PCSK9 described herein. In certain embodiments, the compound can be double-stranded. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises a first strand comprising at least an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 contiguous nucleobase portion of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540 and a second strand. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises a first strand comprising the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540 and a second strand. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises ribonucleotides in which the first strand has uracil (U) in place of thymine (T) in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises (i) a first strand comprising a nucleobase sequence complementary to the site on PCSK9 to which any of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540 is targeted, and (ii) a second strand. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises one or more modified nucleotides in which the 2′ position in the sugar contains a halogen (such as fluorine group; 2′-F) or contains an alkoxy group (such as a methoxy group; 2′-OMe). In certain embodiments, the compound comprises at least one 2′-F sugar modification and at least one 2′-OMe sugar modification. In certain embodiments, the at least one 2′-F sugar modification and at least one 2′-OMe sugar modification are arranged in an alternating pattern for at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 contiguous nucleobases along a strand of the dsRNA compound. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises one or more linkages between adjacent nucleotides other than a naturally-occurring phosphodiester linkage. Examples of such linkages include phosphoramide, phosphorothioate, and phosphorodithioate linkages. The compounds may also be chemically modified nucleic acid molecules as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,661. In other embodiments, the compound contains one or two capped strands, as disclosed, for example, by WO 00/63364, filed Apr. 19, 2000.

In certain embodiments, the first strand of the compound is an siRNA guide strand and the second strand of the compound is an siRNA passenger strand. In certain embodiments, the second strand of the compound is complementary to the first strand. In certain embodiments, each strand of the compound is 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23 linked nucleosides in length. In certain embodiments, the first or second strand of the compound can comprise a conjugate group.

In certain embodiments, a compound described herein can comprise any of the oligonucleotide sequences targeted to PCSK9 described herein. In certain embodiments, the compound is single stranded. In certain embodiments, such a compound is a single-stranded RNAi (ssRNAi) compound. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises at least an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 contiguous nucleobase portion of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises the nucleobase sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540 In certain embodiments, the compound comprises ribonucleotides in which uracil (U) is in place of thymine (T) in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises a nucleobase sequence complementary to the site on PCSK9 to which any of SEQ ID NOs: 3-1540 is targeted. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises one or more modified nucleotides in which the 2′ position in the sugar contains a halogen (such as fluorine group; 2′-F) or contains an alkoxy group (such as a methoxy group; 2′-OMe). In certain embodiments, the compound comprises at least one 2′-F sugar modification and at least one 2′-OMe sugar modification. In certain embodiments, the at least one 2′-F sugar modification and at least one 2′-OMe sugar modification are arranged in an alternating pattern for at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 contiguous nucleobases along a strand of the compound. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises one or more linkages between adjacent nucleotides other than a naturally-occurring phosphodiester linkage. Examples of such linkages include phosphoramide, phosphorothioate, and phosphorodithioate linkages. The compounds may also be chemically modified nucleic acid molecules as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,661. In other embodiments, the compound contains a capped strand, as disclosed, for example, by WO 00/63364, filed Apr. 19, 2000. In certain embodiments, the compound consists of 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23 linked nucleosides. In certain embodiments, the compound can comprise a conjugate group.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise modified oligonucleotides. Certain modified oligonucleotides have one or more asymmetric center and thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomeric configurations that may be defined, in terms of absolute stereochemistry, as (R) or (S), as α or β such as for sugar anomers, or as (D) or (L) such as for amino acids etc. Included in the modified oligonucleotides provided herein are all such possible isomers, including their racemic and optically pure forms, unless specified otherwise. Likewise, all cis- and trans-isomers and tautomeric forms are also included.

The compounds described herein include variations in which one or more atoms are replaced with a non-radioactive isotope or radioactive isotope of the indicated element. For example, compounds herein that comprise hydrogen atoms encompass all possible deuterium substitutions for each of the ¹H hydrogen atoms. Isotopic substitutions encompassed by the compounds herein include but are not limited to: ²H or ³H in place of ¹H, ¹³C or ¹⁴C in place of ¹²C, ¹⁵N in place of ¹⁴N, ¹⁷O or ¹⁸O in place of ¹⁶O, and ³³S, ³⁴S, ³⁵S, or ³⁶S in place of ³²S. In certain embodiments, non-radioactive isotopic substitutions may impart new properties on the compound that are beneficial for use as a therapeutic or research tool. In certain embodiments, radioactive isotopic substitutions may make the compound suitable for research or diagnostic purposes, such as an imaging assay.

Certain Mechanisms

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise or consist of modified oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, compounds described herein are antisense compounds. In certain embodiments, compounds comprise oligomeric compounds. In certain embodiments, compounds described herein are capable of hybridizing to a target nucleic acid, resulting in at least one antisense activity. In certain embodiments, compounds described herein selectively affect one or more target nucleic acid. Such compounds comprise a nucleobase sequence that hybridizes to one or more target nucleic acid, resulting in one or more desired antisense activity and does not hybridize to one or more non-target nucleic acid or does not hybridize to one or more non-target nucleic acid in such a way that results in a significant undesired antisense activity.

In certain antisense activities, hybridization of a compound described herein to a target nucleic acid results in recruitment of a protein that cleaves the target nucleic acid. For example, certain compounds described herein result in RNase H mediated cleavage of the target nucleic acid. RNase H is a cellular endonuclease that cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. The DNA in such an RNA:DNA duplex need not be unmodified DNA. In certain embodiments, compounds described herein are sufficiently “DNA-like”to elicit RNase H activity. Further, in certain embodiments, one or more non-DNA-like nucleoside in the gap of a gapmer is tolerated.

In certain antisense activities, compounds described herein or a portion of the compound is loaded into an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), ultimately resulting in cleavage of the target nucleic acid. For example, certain compounds described herein result in cleavage of the target nucleic acid by Argonaute. Compounds that are loaded into RISC are RNAi compounds. RNAi compounds may be double-stranded (siRNA) or single-stranded (ssRNA).

In certain embodiments, hybridization of compounds described herein to a target nucleic acid does not result in recruitment of a protein that cleaves that target nucleic acid. In certain such embodiments, hybridization of the compound to the target nucleic acid results in alteration of splicing of the target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, hybridization of the compound to a target nucleic acid results in inhibition of a binding interaction between the target nucleic acid and a protein or other nucleic acid. In certain such embodiments, hybridization of the compound to a target nucleic acid results in alteration of translation of the target nucleic acid.

Antisense activities may be observed directly or indirectly. In certain embodiments, observation or detection of an antisense activity involves observation or detection of a change in an amount of a target nucleic acid or protein encoded by such target nucleic acid, a change in the ratio of splice variants of a nucleic acid or protein, and/or a phenotypic change in a cell or animal.

Target Nucleic Acids, Target Regions and Nucleotide Sequences

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise or consist of an oligonucleotide comprising a region that is complementary to a target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, the target nucleic acid is an endogenous RNA molecule. In certain embodiments, the target nucleic acid encodes a protein. In certain such embodiments, the target nucleic acid is selected from: an mRNA and a pre-mRNA, including intronic, exonic and untranslated regions. In certain embodiments, the target RNA is an mRNA. In certain embodiments, the target nucleic acid is a pre-mRNA. In certain such embodiments, the target region is entirely within an intron. In certain embodiments, the target region spans an intron/exon junction. In certain embodiments, the target region is at least 50% within an intron.

Nucleotide sequences that encode PCSK9 include, without limitation, the following: RefSEQ No. GENBANK Accession No. NM_174936.3 (SEQ ID NO: 1), GENBANK Accession No. NC_000001.11 truncated from nucleotides 55036001 to 55068000 (SEQ ID NO: 2), GENBANK Accession No. AK124635.1 (SEQ ID NO: 1545), GENBANK Accession No. NT_032977.8 truncated from nucleotides 25475000 to 25504000 (SEQ ID NO: 1546), GENBANK Accession No. DA092236.1 (SEQ ID NO: 1547), GENBANK Accession No. DA803830.1 (SEQ ID NO: 1548), GENBANK Accession No. DC352135.1 (SEQ ID NO: 1549), and GENBANK Accession No. NR_110451.1 (SEQ ID NO: 1550).

Hybridization

In some embodiments, hybridization occurs between a compound disclosed herein and a PCSK9 nucleic acid. The most common mechanism of hybridization involves hydrogen bonding (e.g., Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding) between complementary nucleobases of the nucleic acid molecules.

Hybridization can occur under varying conditions. Hybridization conditions are sequence-dependent and are determined by the nature and composition of the nucleic acid molecules to be hybridized.

Methods of determining whether a sequence is specifically hybridizable to a target nucleic acid are well known in the art. In certain embodiments, the compounds provided herein are specifically hybridizable with a PCSK9 nucleic acid.

Complementarity

An oligonucleotide is said to be complementary to another nucleic acid when the nucleobase sequence of such oligonucleotide or one or more regions thereof matches the nucleobase sequence of another oligonucleotide or nucleic acid or one or more regions thereof when the two nucleobase sequences are aligned in opposing directions. Nucleobase matches or complementary nucleobases, as described herein, are limited to the following pairs: adenine (A) and thymine (T), adenine (A) and uracil (U), cytosine (C) and guanine (G), and 5-methyl cytosine (mC) and guanine (G) unless otherwise specified. Complementary oligonucleotides and/or nucleic acids need not have nucleobase complementarity at each nucleoside and may include one or more nucleobase mismatches. An oligonucleotide is fully complementary or 100% complementary when such oligonucleotides have nucleobase matches at each nucleoside without any nucleobase mismatches.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise or consist of modified oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, compounds described herein are antisense compounds. In certain embodiments, compounds comprise oligomeric compounds. Non-complementary nucleobases between a compound and a PCSK9 nucleic acid may be tolerated provided that the compound remains able to specifically hybridize to a target nucleic acid. Moreover, a compound may hybridize over one or more segments of a PCSK9 nucleic acid such that intervening or adjacent segments are not involved in the hybridization event (e.g., a loop structure, mismatch or hairpin structure).

In certain embodiments, the compounds provided herein, or a specified portion thereof, are, are at least, or are up to 70%, 80%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% complementary to a PCSK9 nucleic acid, a target region, target segment, or specified portion thereof. In certain embodiments, the compounds provided herein, or a specified portion thereof, are 70% to 75%, 75% to 80%, 80% to 85%, 85% to 90%, 90% to 95%, 95% to 100%, or any number in between these ranges, complementary to a PCSK9 nucleic acid, a target region, target segment, or specified portion thereof. Percent complementarity of a compound with a target nucleic acid can be determined using routine methods.

For example, a compound in which 18 of 20 nucleobases of the compound are complementary to a target region, and would therefore specifically hybridize, would represent 90 percent complementarity. In this example, the remaining non-complementary nucleobases may be clustered or interspersed with complementary nucleobases and need not be contiguous to each other or to complementary nucleobases. As such, a compound which is 18 nucleobases in length having four non-complementary nucleobases which are flanked by two regions of complete complementarity with the target nucleic acid would have 77.8% overall complementarity with the target nucleic acid. Percent complementarity of a compound with a region of a target nucleic acid can be determined routinely using BLAST programs (basic local alignment search tools) and PowerBLAST programs known in the art (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol., 1990, 215, 403 410; Zhang and Madden, Genome Res., 1997, 7, 649 656). Percent homology, sequence identity or complementarity, can be determined by, for example, the Gap program (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, Genetics Computer Group, University Research Park, Madison Wis.), using default settings, which uses the algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Adv. Appl. Math., 1981, 2, 482 489).

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein, or specified portions thereof, are fully complementary (i.e. 100% complementary) to a target nucleic acid, or specified portion thereof. For example, a compound may be fully complementary to a PCSK9 nucleic acid, or a target region, or a target segment or target sequence thereof. As used herein, “fully complementary” means each nucleobase of a compound is complementary to the corresponding nucleobase of a target nucleic acid. For example, a 20 nucleobase compound is fully complementary to a target sequence that is 400 nucleobases long, so long as there is a corresponding 20 nucleobase portion of the target nucleic acid that is fully complementary to the compound. Fully complementary can also be used in reference to a specified portion of the first and/or the second nucleic acid. For example, a 20 nucleobase portion of a 30 nucleobase compound can be “fully complementary” to a target sequence that is 400 nucleobases long. The 20 nucleobase portion of the 30 nucleobase compound is fully complementary to the target sequence if the target sequence has a corresponding 20 nucleobase portion wherein each nucleobase is complementary to the 20 nucleobase portion of the compound. At the same time, the entire 30 nucleobase compound may or may not be fully complementary to the target sequence, depending on whether the remaining 10 nucleobases of the compound are also complementary to the target sequence.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise one or more mismatched nucleobases relative to the target nucleic acid. In certain such embodiments, antisense activity against the target is reduced by such mismatch, but activity against a non-target is reduced by a greater amount. Thus, in certain such embodiments selectivity of the compound is improved. In certain embodiments, the mismatch is specifically positioned within an oligonucleotide having a gapmer motif. In certain such embodiments, the mismatch is at position 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 from the 5′-end of the gap region. In certain such embodiments, the mismatch is at position 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 from the 3′-end of the gap region. In certain such embodiments, the mismatch is at position 1, 2, 3, or 4 from the 5′-end of the wing region. In certain such embodiments, the mismatch is at position 4, 3, 2, or 1 from the 3′-end of the wing region. In certain embodiments, the mismatch is specifically positioned within an oligonucleotide not having a gapmer motif. In certain such embodiments, the mismatch is at position 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 from the 5′-end of the oligonucleotide. In certain such embodiments, the mismatch is at position, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 from the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide.

The location of a non-complementary nucleobase may be at the 5′ end or 3′ end of the compound. Alternatively, the non-complementary nucleobase or nucleobases may be at an internal position of the compound. When two or more non-complementary nucleobases are present, they may be contiguous (i.e. linked) or non-contiguous. In one embodiment, a non-complementary nucleobase is located in the wing segment of a gapmer oligonucleotide.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein that are, or are up to 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 nucleobases in length comprise no more than 4, no more than 3, no more than 2, or no more than 1 non-complementary nucleobase(s) relative to a target nucleic acid, such as a PCSK9 nucleic acid, or specified portion thereof.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein that are, or are up to 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 nucleobases in length comprise no more than 6, no more than 5, no more than 4, no more than 3, no more than 2, or no more than 1 non-complementary nucleobase(s) relative to a target nucleic acid, such as a PCSK9 nucleic acid, or specified portion thereof.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein also include those which are complementary to a portion of a target nucleic acid. As used herein, “portion” refers to a defined number of contiguous (i.e. linked) nucleobases within a region or segment of a target nucleic acid. A “portion” can also refer to a defined number of contiguous nucleobases of a compound. In certain embodiments, the—compounds, are complementary to at least an 8 nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, the compounds are complementary to at least a 9 nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, the compounds are complementary to at least a 10 nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, the compounds are complementary to at least an 11 nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, the compounds are complementary to at least a 12 nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, the compounds are complementary to at least a 13 nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, the compounds are complementary to at least a 14 nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, the compounds are complementary to at least a 15 nucleobase portion of a target segment. In certain embodiments, the compounds are complementary to at least a 16 nucleobase portion of a target segment. Also contemplated are compounds that are complementary to at least a 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more nucleobase portion of a target segment, or a range defined by any two of these values.

Identity

The compounds provided herein may also have a defined percent identity to a particular nucleotide sequence, SEQ ID NO, or compound represented by a specific ION number, or portion thereof. In certain embodiments, compounds described herein are antisense compounds or oligomeric compounds. In certain embodiments, compounds described herein are modified oligonucleotides. As used herein, a compound is identical to the sequence disclosed herein if it has the same nucleobase pairing ability. For example, a RNA which contains uracil in place of thymidine in a disclosed DNA sequence would be considered identical to the DNA sequence since both uracil and thymidine pair with adenine. Shortened and lengthened versions of the compounds described herein as well as compounds having non-identical bases relative to the compounds provided herein also are contemplated. The non-identical bases may be adjacent to each other or dispersed throughout the compound. Percent identity of an compound is calculated according to the number of bases that have identical base pairing relative to the sequence to which it is being compared.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein, or portions thereof, are, or are at least, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% A or 100% identical to one or more of the compounds or SEQ ID NOs, or a portion thereof, disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, compounds described herein are about 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical, or any percentage between such values, to a particular nucleotide sequence, SEQ ID NO, or compound represented by a specific ION number, or portion thereof, in which the compounds comprise an oligonucleotide having one or more mismatched nucleobases. In certain such embodiments, the mismatch is at position 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 from the 5′-end of the oligonucleotide. In certain such embodiments, the mismatch is at position, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 from the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise or consist of antisense compounds. In certain embodiments, a portion of the antisense compound is compared to an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 nucleobase portion is compared to an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise or consist of oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, a portion of the oligonucleotide is compared to an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, an 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 nucleobase portion is compared to an equal length portion of the target nucleic acid.

Certain Modified Compounds

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise or consist of oligonucleotides consisting of linked nucleosides. Oligonucleotides may be unmodified oligonucleotides (RNA or DNA) or may be modified oligonucleotides. Modified oligonucleotides comprise at least one modification relative to unmodified RNA or DNA (i.e., comprise at least one modified nucleoside (comprising a modified sugar moiety and/or a modified nucleobase) and/or at least one modified internucleoside linkage).

A. Modified Nucleosides

Modified nucleosides comprise a modified sugar moiety or a modified nucleobase or both a modified sugar moiety and a modified nucleobase.

1. Modified Sugar Moieties

In certain embodiments, sugar moieties are non-bicyclic modified sugar moieties. In certain embodiments, modified sugar moieties are bicyclic or tricyclic sugar moieties. In certain embodiments, modified sugar moieties are sugar surrogates. Such sugar surrogates may comprise one or more substitutions corresponding to those of other types of modified sugar moieties.

In certain embodiments, modified sugar moieties are non-bicyclic modified sugar moieties comprising a furanosyl ring with one or more acyclic substituent, including but not limited to substituents at the 2′, 4′, and/or 5′ positions. In certain embodiments one or more acyclic substituent of non-bicyclic modified sugar moieties is branched. Examples of 2′-substituent groups suitable for non-bicyclic modified sugar moieties include but are not limited to: 2′-F, 2′-OCH₃ (“OMe” or “O-methyl”), and 2′-O(CH₂)₂OCH₃ ₌ (“MOE”). In certain embodiments, 2′-substituent groups are selected from among: halo, allyl, amino, azido, SH, CN, OCN, CF₃, OCF₃, O—C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, O—C₁-C₁₀ substituted alkoxy, O—C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, O—C₁-C₁₀ substituted alkyl, S-alkyl, N(R_(m))-alkyl, O-alkenyl, S-alkenyl, N(R_(m))-alkenyl, O-alkynyl, S-alkynyl, N(R_(m))-alkynyl, O-alkylenyl-O-alkyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl, O-aralkyl, O(CH₂)₂SCH₃, O(CH₂)₂ON(R_(m))(R_(n)) or OCH₂C(═O)—N(R_(m))(R_(n)), where each R_(m) and R_(n) is, independently, H, an amino protecting group, or substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, and the 2′-substituent groups described in Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,584; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,221; and Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,087. Certain embodiments of these 2′-substituent groups can be further substituted with one or more substituent groups independently selected from among: hydroxyl, amino, alkoxy, carboxy, benzyl, phenyl, nitro (NO₂), thiol, thioalkoxy, thioalkyl, halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl. Examples of 4′-substituent groups suitable for linearly non-bicyclic modified sugar moieties include but are not limited to alkoxy (e.g., methoxy), alkyl, and those described in Manoharan et al., WO 2015/106128. Examples of 5′-substituent groups suitable for non-bicyclic modified sugar moieties include but are not limited to: 5′-methyl (R or S), 5′-vinyl, and 5′-methoxy. In certain embodiments, non-bicyclic modified sugars comprise more than one non-bridging sugar substituent, for example, 2′-F-5′-methyl sugar moieties and the modified sugar moieties and modified nucleosides described in Migawa et al., US2010/190837 and Rajeev et al., US2013/0203836.

In certain embodiments, a 2′-substituted nucleoside or 2′-non-bicyclic modified nucleoside comprises a sugar moiety comprising a linear 2′-substituent group selected from: F, NH₂, N₃, OCF₃, OCH₃, O(CH₂)₃NH₂, CH₂CH═CH₂, OCH₂CH═CH₂, OCH₂CH₂OCH₃, O(CH₂)₂SCH₃, O(CH₂)₂ON(R_(m))(R_(n)), O(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)₂, and N-substituted acetamide (OCH₂C(═O)—N(R_(m))(R_(n))), where each R_(m) and R_(n) is, independently, H, an amino protecting group, or substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

In certain embodiments, a 2′-substituted nucleoside or 2′-non-bicyclic modified nucleoside comprises a sugar moiety comprising a linear 2′-substituent group selected from: F, OCF₃, OCH₃, OCH₂CH₂OCH₃, O(CH₂)₂SCH₃, O(CH₂)₂ON(CH₃)₂, O(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)₂, and OCH₂C(═O)—N(H)CH₃ (“NMA”).

In certain embodiments, a 2′-substituted nucleoside or 2′-non-bicyclic modified nucleoside comprises a sugar moiety comprising a linear 2′-substituent group selected from: F, OCH₃, and OCH₂CH₂OCH₃.

Nucleosides comprising modified sugar moieties, such as non-bicyclic modified sugar moieties, are referred to by the position(s) of the substitution(s) on the sugar moiety of the nucleoside. For example, nucleosides comprising 2′-substituted or 2-modified sugar moieties are referred to as 2′-substituted nucleosides or 2-modified nucleosides.

Certain modified sugar moieties comprise a bridging sugar substituent that forms a second ring resulting in a bicyclic sugar moiety. In certain such embodiments, the bicyclic sugar moiety comprises a bridge between the 4′ and the 2′ furanose ring atoms. Examples of such 4′ to 2′ bridging sugar substituents include but are not limited to: 4′-CH₂-2′, 4′-(CH₂)₂-2′, 4′-(CH₂)₃-2′, 4′-CH₂—O-2′ (“LNA”), 4′-CH₂—S-2′, 4′-(CH₂)₂—O-2′ (“ENA”), 4′-CH(CH₃)—O-2′ (referred to as “constrained ethyl” or “cEt” when in the S configuration), 4′-CH₂—O—CH₂-2′, 4′-CH₂—N(R)-2′, 4′-CH(CH₂OCH₃)—O-2′ (“constrained MOE” or “cMOE”) and analogs thereof (see, e.g., Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,399,845, Bhat et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,569,686, Swayze et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,741,457, and Swayze et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,022,193), 4′-C(CH₃)(CH₃)—O-2′ and analogs thereof (see, e.g., Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,278,283), 4′-CH₂—N(OCH₃)-2′ and analogs thereof (see, e.g., Prakash et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,278,425), 4′-CH₂—O—N(CH₃)-2′ (see, e.g., Allerson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,696,345 and Allerson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,124,745), 4′-CH₂—C(H)(CH₃)-2′ (see, e.g., Zhou, et al., J. Org. Chem., 2009, 74, 118-134), 4′-CH₂—C(═CH₂)-2′ and analogs thereof (see e.g., Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,278,426), 4′-C(R_(a)R_(b))—N(R)—O-2′, 4′-C(R_(a)R_(b))—O—N(R)-2′, 4′-CH₂—O—N(R)-2′, and 4′-CH₂—N(R)—O-2′, wherein each R, R_(a), and R_(b) is, independently, H, a protecting group, or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl (see, e.g. Imanishi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,427,672).

In certain embodiments, such 4′ to 2′ bridges independently comprise from 1 to 4 linked groups independently selected from: —[C(R_(a))(R_(b))]_(n)—, —[C(R_(a))(R_(b))]_(n)—O—, —C(R_(a))═C(R_(b))—, —C(R_(a))═N—, —C(═NR_(a))—, —C(═O)—, —C(═S)—, —O—, —Si(R_(a))₂—, —S(═O)_(x)—, and —N(R_(a))—;

wherein:

x is 0, 1, or 2;

n is 1, 2, 3, or 4;

each R_(a) and R_(b) is, independently, H, a protecting group, hydroxyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, C₅-C₂₀ aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₀ aryl, heterocycle radical, substituted heterocycle radical, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, C₅-C₇ alicyclic radical, substituted C₅-C₇ alicyclic radical, halogen, OJ₁, NJ₁J₂, SJ₁, N₃, COOJ₁, acyl (C(═O)—H), substituted acyl, CN, sulfonyl (S(═O)₂-J₁), or sulfoxyl (S(═O)-J₁); and each J₁ and J₂ is, independently, H, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, C₅-C₂₀ aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₀ aryl, acyl (C(═O)—H), substituted acyl, a heterocycle radical, a substituted heterocycle radical, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, or a protecting group.

Additional bicyclic sugar moieties are known in the art, see, for example: Freier et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 1997, 25(22), 4429-4443, Albaek et al., J. Org. Chem., 2006, 71, 7731-7740, Singh et al., Chem. Commun., 1998, 4, 455-456; Koshkin et al., Tetrahedron, 1998, 54, 3607-3630; Wahlestedt et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, 2000, 97, 5633-5638; Kumar et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1998, 8, 2219-2222; Singh et al., J. Org. Chem., 1998, 63, 10035-10039; Srivastava et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129, 8362-8379; Elayadi et al., Curr. Opinion Invens. Drugs, 2001, 2, 558-561; Braasch et al., Chem. Biol., 2001, 8, 1-7; Orum et al., Curr. Opinion Mol. Ther., 2001, 3, 239-243; Wengel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,207, Imanishi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,490, Imanishi et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,748, Imanishi et al., U.S. RE44,779; Wengel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,794,499, Wengel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,461; Wengel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,034,133, Wengel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,080,644; Wengel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,034,909; Wengel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,153,365; Wengel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,572,582; and Ramasamy et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,191, Torsten et al., WO 2004/106356, Wengel et al., WO 1999/014226; Seth et al., WO 2007/134181; Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,547,684; Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,666,854; Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,088,746; Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,750,131; Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,030,467; Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,268,980; Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,546,556; Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,530,640; Migawa et al., U.S. Pat. No. 9,012,421; Seth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,501,805; Allerson et al., US2008/0039618; and Migawa et al., US2015/0191727.

In certain embodiments, bicyclic sugar moieties and nucleosides incorporating such bicyclic sugar moieties are further defined by isomeric configuration. For example, an LNA nucleoside (described herein) may be in the α-L configuration or in the β-D configuration.

α-L-methyleneoxy (4′-CH₂—O-2′) or α-L-LNA bicyclic nucleosides have been incorporated into oligonucleotides that showed antisense activity (Frieden et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2003, 21, 6365-6372). Herein, general descriptions of bicyclic nucleosides include both isomeric configurations. When the positions of specific bicyclic nucleosides (e.g., LNA or cEt) are identified in exemplified embodiments herein, they are in the β-D configuration, unless otherwise specified.

In certain embodiments, modified sugar moieties comprise one or more non-bridging sugar substituent and one or more bridging sugar substituent (e.g., 5′-substituted and 4′-2′ bridged sugars).

In certain embodiments, modified sugar moieties are sugar surrogates. In certain such embodiments, the oxygen atom of the sugar moiety is replaced, e.g., with a sulfur, carbon or nitrogen atom. In certain such embodiments, such modified sugar moieties also comprise bridging and/or non-bridging substituents as described herein. For example, certain sugar surrogates comprise a 4′-sulfur atom and a substitution at the 2′-position (see, e.g., Bhat et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,875,733 and Bhat et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,939,677) and/or the 5′ position.

In certain embodiments, sugar surrogates comprise rings having other than 5 atoms. For example, in certain embodiments, a sugar surrogate comprises a six-membered tetrahydropyran (“THP”). Such tetrahydropyrans may be further modified or substituted. Nucleosides comprising such modified tetrahydropyrans include but are not limited to hexitol nucleic acid (“HNA”), anitol nucleic acid (“ANA”), manitol nucleic acid (“MNA”) (see e.g., Leumann, C J. Bioorg. & Med. Chem. 2002, 10, 841-854), fluoro HNA:

(“F-HNA”, see e.g., Swayze et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,088,904; Swayze et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,440,803; and Swayze et al., U.S. Pat. No. 9,005,906, F-HNA can also be referred to as a F-THP or 3′-fluoro tetrahydropyran), and nucleosides comprising additional modified THP compounds having the formula:

wherein, independently, for each of said modified THP nucleoside:

Bx is a nucleobase moiety;

T₃ and T₄ are each, independently, an internucleoside linking group linking the modified THP nucleoside to the remainder of an oligonucleotide or one of T₃ and T₄ is an internucleoside linking group linking the modified THP nucleoside to the remainder of an oligonucleotide and the other of T₃ and T₄ is H, a hydroxyl protecting group, a linked conjugate group, or a 5′ or 3′-terminal group; q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ are each, independently, H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, or substituted C₂-C₆ alkynyl; and each of R₁ and R₂ is independently selected from among: hydrogen, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, NJ₁J₂, SJ₁, N₃, OC(═X)J₁, OC(═X)NJ₁J₂, NJ₃C(═X)NJ₁J₂, and CN, wherein X is O, S or NJ₁, and each J₁, J₂, and J₃ is, independently, H or C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In certain embodiments, modified THP nucleosides are provided wherein q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ are each H. In certain embodiments, at least one of q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ is other than H. In certain embodiments, at least one of q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ is methyl. In certain embodiments, modified THP nucleosides are provided wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is F. In certain embodiments, R₁ is F and R₂ is H, in certain embodiments, R₁ is methoxy and R₂ is H, and in certain embodiments, R₁ is methoxyethoxy and R₂ is H.

In certain embodiments, sugar surrogates comprise rings having more than 5 atoms and more than one heteroatom. For example, nucleosides comprising morpholino sugar moieties and their use in oligonucleotides have been reported (see, e.g., Braasch et al., Biochemistry, 2002, 41, 4503-4510 and Summerton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,685; Summerton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,315; Summerton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,444; and Summerton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506). As used here, the term “morpholino” means a sugar surrogate having the following structure:

In certain embodiments, morpholinos may be modified, for example by adding or altering various substituent groups from the above morpholino structure. Such sugar surrogates are referred to herein as “modified morpholinos.”

In certain embodiments, sugar surrogates comprise acyclic moieties. Examples of nucleosides and oligonucleotides comprising such acyclic sugar surrogates include but are not limited to: peptide nucleic acid (“PNA”), acyclic butyl nucleic acid (see, e.g., Kumar et al., Org. Biomol. Chem., 2013, 11, 5853-5865), and nucleosides and oligonucleotides described in Manoharan et al., US2013/130378.

Many other bicyclic and tricyclic sugar and sugar surrogate ring systems are known in the art that can be used in modified nucleosides.

2. Modified Nucleobases

Nucleobase (or base) modifications or substitutions are structurally distinguishable from, yet functionally interchangeable with, naturally occurring or synthetic unmodified nucleobases. Both natural and modified nucleobases are capable of participating in hydrogen bonding. Such nucleobase modifications can impart nuclease stability, binding affinity or some other beneficial biological property to antisense compounds.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise modified oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise one or more nucleoside comprising an unmodified nucleobase. In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise one or more nucleoside comprising a modified nucleobase. In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise one or more nucleoside that does not comprise a nucleobase, referred to as an abasic nucleoside.

In certain embodiments, modified nucleobases are selected from: 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimi¬idines, alkyl or alkynyl substituted pyrimidines, alkyl substituted purines, and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines. In certain embodiments, modified nucleobases are selected from: 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, 5-methylcytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-N-methylguanine, 6-N-methyladenine, 2-propyladenine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-propynyl (C≡C—CH₃) uracil, 5-propynylcytosine, 6-azouracil, 6-azocytosine, 6-azothymine, 5-ribosyluracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl, 8-aza and other 8-substituted purines, 5-halo, particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl, 5-halouracil, and 5-halocytosine, 7-methylguanine, 7-methyladenine, 2-F-adenine, 2-aminoadenine, 7-deazaguanine, 7-deazaadenine, 3-deazaguanine, 3-deazaadenine, 6-N-benzoyladenine, 2-N-isobutyrylguanine, 4-N-benzoylcytosine, 4-N-benzoyluracil, 5-methyl 4-N-benzoylcytosine, 5-methyl 4-N-benzoyluracil, universal bases, hydrophobic bases, promiscuous bases, size-expanded bases, and fluorinated bases. Further modified nucleobases include tricyclic pyrimidines, such as 1,3-diazaphenoxazine-2-one, 1,3-diazaphenothiazine-2-one and 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-1,3-diazaphenoxazine-2-one (G-clamp). Modified nucleobases may also include those in which the purine or pyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example 7-deaza-adenine, 7-deazaguanosine, 2-aminopyridine and 2-pyridone. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in Merigan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, Kroschwitz, J. I., Ed., John Wiley & Sons, 1990, 858-859; Englisch et al., Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613; Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, Antisense Research and Applications, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., Eds., CRC Press, 1993, 273-288; and those disclosed in Chapters 6 and 15, Antisense Drug Technology, Crooke S. T., Ed., CRC Press, 2008, 163-166 and 442-443.

Publications that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted modified nucleobases as well as other modified nucleobases include without limitation, Manoharan et al., US2003/0158403, Manoharan et al., US2003/0175906; Dinh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,205; Spielvogel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,302; Rogers et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,066; Bischofberger et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,273; Urdea et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,066; Benner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,272; Matteucci et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,257; Gmeiner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,187; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,255; Froehler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,908; Matteucci et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,177; Hawkins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,711; Haralambidis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,540; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,469; Froehler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,121; Switzer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,091; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,617; Froehler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,985; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,941; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,534; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,692; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,903; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,470; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,191; Matteucci et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,588; Froehler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,653; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,027; Cook et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,199; and Matteucci et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,096.

In certain embodiments, compounds targeted to a PCSK9 nucleic acid comprise one or more modified nucleobases. In certain embodiments, the modified nucleobase is 5-methylcytosine. In certain embodiments, each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.

3. Modified Internucleoside Linkages

The naturally occurring internucleoside linkage of RNA and DNA is a 3′ to 5′ phosphodiester linkageIn certain embodiments, compounds described herein having one or more modified, i.e. non-naturally occurring, internucleoside linkages are often selected over compounds having naturally occurring internucleoside linkages because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for target nucleic acids, and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.

In certain embodiments, compounds targeted to a PCSK9 nucleic acid comprise one or more modified internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the modified internucleoside linkages are phosphorothioate linkages. In certain embodiments, each internucleoside linkage of an antisense compound is a phosphorothioate internucleoside linkage.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides having modified internucleoside linkages include internucleoside linkages that retain a phosphorus atom as well as internucleoside linkages that do not have a phosphorus atom. Representative phosphorus containing internucleoside linkages include, but are not limited to, phosphodiesters, phosphotriesters, methylphosphonates, phosphoramidate, and phosphorothioates. Methods of preparation of phosphorous-containing and non-phosphorous-containing linkages are well known.

In certain embodiments, nucleosides of modified oligonucleotides may be linked together using any internucleoside linkage. The two main classes of internucleoside linking groups are defined by the presence or absence of a phosphorus atom. Representative phosphorus-containing internucleoside linkages include but are not limited to phosphates, which contain a phosphodiester bond (“P═O”) (also referred to as unmodified or naturally occurring linkages), phosphotriesters, methylphosphonates, phosphoramidates, and phosphorothioates (“P═S”), and phosphorodithioates (“HS—P═S”). Representative non-phosphorus containing internucleoside linking groups include but are not limited to methylenemethylimino (—CH2-N(CH3)-O—CH2-), thiodiester, thionocarbamate (—O—C(═O)(NH)—S—); siloxane (—O—SiH2-O—); and N,N′-dimethylhydrazine (—CH2-N(CH3)-N(CH3)-). Modified internucleoside linkages, compared to naturally occurring phosphate linkages, can be used to alter, typically increase, nuclease resistance of the oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, internucleoside linkages having a chiral atom can be prepared as a racemic mixture, or as separate enantiomers. Representative chiral internucleoside linkages include but are not limited to alkylphosphonates and phosphorothioates. Methods of preparation of phosphorous-containing and non-phosphorous-containing internucleoside linkages are well known to those skilled in the art.

Neutral internucleoside linkages include, without limitation, phosphotriesters, methylphosphonates, MMI (3′-CH2-N(CH3)-O-5′), amide-3 (3′-CH2-C(═O)—N(H)-5′), amide-4 (3′-CH2-N(H)—C(═O)-5′), formacetal (3′-O—CH2-O-5′), methoxypropyl, and thioformacetal (3′-S—CH2-O-5′). Further neutral internucleoside linkages include nonionic linkages comprising siloxane (dialkylsiloxane), carboxylate ester, carboxamide, sulfide, sulfonate ester and amides (See for example: Carbohydrate Modifications in Antisense Research; Y. S. Sanghvi and P. D. Cook, Eds., ACS Symposium Series 580; Chapters 3 and 4, 40-65). Further neutral internucleoside linkages include nonionic linkages comprising mixed N, O, S and CH2 component parts.

In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise modified internucleoside linkages arranged along the oligonucleotide or region thereof in a defined pattern or modified internucleoside linkage motif. In certain embodiments, internucleoside linkages are arranged in a gapped motif. In such embodiments, the internucleoside linkages in each of two wing regions are different from the internucleoside linkages in the gap region. In certain embodiments the internucleoside linkages in the wings are phosphodiester and the internucleoside linkages in the gap are phosphorothioate. The nucleoside motif is independently selected, so such oligonucleotides having a gapped internucleoside linkage motif may or may not have a gapped nucleoside motif and if it does have a gapped nucleoside motif, the wing and gap lengths may or may not be the same.

In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise a region having an alternating internucleoside linkage motif. In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise a region of uniformly modified internucleoside linkages. In certain such embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises a region that is uniformly linked by phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide is uniformly linked by phosphorothioate. In certain embodiments, each internucleoside linkage of the oligonucleotide is selected from phosphodiester and phosphorothioate. In certain embodiments, each internucleoside linkage of the oligonucleotide is selected from phosphodiester and phosphorothioate and at least one internucleoside linkage is phosphorothioate.

In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least 6 phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least 8 phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least 10 phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block of at least 6 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block of at least 8 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one block of at least 10 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least block of at least one 12 consecutive phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages. In certain such embodiments, at least one such block is located at the 3′ end of the oligonucleotide. In certain such embodiments, at least one such block is located within 3 nucleosides of the 3′ end of the oligonucleotide.

In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise one or more methylphosponate linkages. In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides having a gapmer nucleoside motif comprise a linkage motif comprising all phosphorothioate linkages except for one or two methylphosponate linkages. In certain embodiments, one methylphosponate linkage is in the central gap of an oligonucleotide having a gapmer nucleoside motif.

In certain embodiments, it is desirable to arrange the number of phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages and phosphodiester internucleoside linkages to maintain nuclease resistance. In certain embodiments, it is desirable to arrange the number and position of phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages and the number and position of phosphodiester internucleoside linkages to maintain nuclease resistance. In certain embodiments, the number of phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages may be decreased and the number of phosphodiester internucleoside linkages may be increased. In certain embodiments, the number of phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages may be decreased and the number of phosphodiester internucleoside linkages may be increased while still maintaining nuclease resistance. In certain embodiments it is desirable to decrease the number of phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages while retaining nuclease resistance. In certain embodiments it is desirable to increase the number of phosphodiester internucleoside linkages while retaining nuclease resistance.

4. Certain Motifs

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides can have a motif, e.g. a pattern of unmodified and/or modified sugar moieties, nucleobases, and/or internucleoside linkages. In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise one or more modified nucleoside comprising a modified sugar. In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise one or more modified nucleosides comprising a modified nucleobase. In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise one or more modified internucleoside linkage. In such embodiments, the modified, unmodified, and differently modified sugar moieties, nucleobases, and/or internucleoside linkages of a modified oligonucleotide define a pattern or motif. In certain embodiments, the patterns of sugar moieties, nucleobases, and internucleoside linkages are each independent of one another. Thus, a modified oligonucleotide may be described by its sugar motif, nucleobase motif and/or internucleoside linkage motif (as used herein, nucleobase motif describes the modifications to the nucleobases independent of the sequence of nucleobases).

a. Certain Sugar Motifs

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise one or more type of modified sugar and/or unmodified sugar moiety arranged along the oligonucleotide or region thereof in a defined pattern or sugar motif. In certain instances, such sugar motifs include but are not limited to any of the sugar modifications discussed herein.

In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise or consist of a region having a gapmer motif, which comprises two external regions or “wings” and a central or internal region or “gap.” The three regions of a gapmer motif (the 5′-wing, the gap, and the 3′-wing) form a contiguous sequence of nucleosides wherein at least some of the sugar moieties of the nucleosides of each of the wings differ from at least some of the sugar moieties of the nucleosides of the gap. Specifically, at least the sugar moieties of the nucleosides of each wing that are closest to the gap (the 3′-most nucleoside of the 5′-wing and the 5′-most nucleoside of the 3′-wing) differ from the sugar moiety of the neighboring gap nucleosides, thus defining the boundary between the wings and the gap (i.e., the wing/gap junction). In certain embodiments, the sugar moieties within the gap are the same as one another. In certain embodiments, the gap includes one or more nucleoside having a sugar moiety that differs from the sugar moiety of one or more other nucleosides of the gap. In certain embodiments, the sugar motifs of the two wings are the same as one another (symmetric gapmer). In certain embodiments, the sugar motif of the 5′-wing differs from the sugar motif of the 3′-wing (asymmetric gapmer).

In certain embodiments, the wings of a gapmer comprise 1-5 nucleosides. In certain embodiments, the wings of a gapmer comprise 2-5 nucleosides. In certain embodiments, the wings of a gapmer comprise 3-5 nucleosides. In certain embodiments, the nucleosides of a gapmer are all modified nucleosides.

In certain embodiments, the gap of a gapmer comprises 7-12 nucleosides. In certain embodiments, the gap of a gapmer comprises 7-10 nucleosides. In certain embodiments, the gap of a gapmer comprises 8-10 nucleosides. In certain embodiments, the gap of a gapmer comprises 10 nucleosides. In certain embodiment, each nucleoside of the gap of a gapmer is an unmodified 2′-deoxy nucleoside.

In certain embodiments, the gapmer is a deoxy gapmer. In such embodiments, the nucleosides on the gap side of each wing/gap junction are unmodified 2′-deoxy nucleosides and the nucleosides on the wing sides of each wing/gap junction are modified nucleosides. In certain such embodiments, each nucleoside of the gap is an unmodified 2′-deoxy nucleoside. In certain such embodiments, each nucleoside of each wing is a modified nucleoside.

In certain embodiments, a modified oligonucleotide has a fully modified sugar motif wherein each nucleoside of the modified oligonucleotide comprises a modified sugar moiety. In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise or consist of a region having a fully modified sugar motif wherein each nucleoside of the region comprises a modified sugar moiety. In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise or consist of a region having a fully modified sugar motif, wherein each nucleoside within the fully modified region comprises the same modified sugar moiety, referred to herein as a uniformly modified sugar motif. In certain embodiments, a fully modified oligonucleotide is a uniformly modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, each nucleoside of a uniformly modified comprises the same 2′-modification.

In certain embodiments, a modified oligonucleotide can comprise a sugar motif described in Swayze et al., US2010/0197762; Freier et al., US2014/0107330; Freier et al., US2015/0184153; and Seth et al., US2015/0267195, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

b. Certain Nucleobase Motifs

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise modified and/or unmodified nucleobases arranged along the oligonucleotide or region thereof in a defined pattern or motif. In certain embodiments, each nucleobase is modified. In certain embodiments, none of the nucleobases are modified. In certain embodiments, each purine or each pyrimidine is modified. In certain embodiments, each adenine is modified. In certain embodiments, each guanine is modified. In certain embodiments, each thymine is modified. In certain embodiments, each uracil is modified. In certain embodiments, each cytosine is modified. In certain embodiments, some or all of the cytosine nucleobases in a modified oligonucleotide are 5-methylcytosines.

In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides comprise a block of modified nucleobases. In certain such embodiments, the block is at the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments the block is within 3 nucleosides of the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the block is at the 5′-end of the oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments the block is within 3 nucleosides of the 5′-end of the oligonucleotide.

In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides having a gapmer motif comprise a nucleoside comprising a modified nucleobase. In certain such embodiments, one nucleoside comprising a modified nucleobase is in the central gap of an oligonucleotide having a gapmer motif. In certain such embodiments, the sugar moiety of said nucleoside is a 2′-deoxyribosyl moiety. In certain embodiments, the modified nucleobase is selected from: a 2-thiopyrimidine and a 5-propynepyrimidine.

c. Certain Internucleoside Linkage Motifs

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise modified and/or unmodified internucleoside linkages arranged along the oligonucleotide or region thereof in a defined pattern or motif. In certain embodiments, essentially each internucleoside linking group is a phosphate internucleoside linkage (P═O). In certain embodiments, each internucleoside linking group of a modified oligonucleotide is a phosphorothioate (P═S). In certain embodiments, each internucleoside linking group of a modified oligonucleotide is independently selected from a phosphorothioate and phosphate internucleoside linkage. In certain embodiments, the sugar motif of a modified oligonucleotide is a gapmer and the internucleoside linkages within the gap are all modified. In certain such embodiments, some or all of the internucleoside linkages in the wings are unmodified phosphate linkages. In certain embodiments, the terminal internucleoside linkages are modified.

5. Certain Modified Oligonucleotides

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise modified oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, the above modifications (sugar, nucleobase, internucleoside linkage) are incorporated into a modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, modified oligonucleotides are characterized by their modification, motifs, and overall lengths. In certain embodiments, such parameters are each independent of one another. Thus, unless otherwise indicated, each internucleoside linkage of an oligonucleotide having a gapmer sugar motif may be modified or unmodified and may or may not follow the gapmer modification pattern of the sugar modifications. For example, the internucleoside linkages within the wing regions of a sugar gapmer may be the same or different from one another and may be the same or different from the internucleoside linkages of the gap region of the sugar motif. Likewise, such gapmer oligonucleotides may comprise one or more modified nucleobase independent of the gapmer pattern of the sugar modifications. Furthermore, in certain instances, an oligonucleotide is described by an overall length or range and by lengths or length ranges of two or more regions (e.g., a regions of nucleosides having specified sugar modifications), in such circumstances it may be possible to select numbers for each range that result in an oligonucleotide having an overall length falling outside the specified range. In such circumstances, both elements must be satisfied. For example, in certain embodiments, a modified oligonucleotide consists of 15-20 linked nucleosides and has a sugar motif consisting of three regions, A, B, and C, wherein region A consists of 2-6 linked nucleosides having a specified sugar motif, region B consists of 6-10 linked nucleosides having a specified sugar motif, and region C consists of 2-6 linked nucleosides having a specified sugar motif. Such embodiments do not include modified oligonucleotides where A and C each consist of 6 linked nucleosides and B consists of 10 linked nucleosides (even though those numbers of nucleosides are permitted within the requirements for A, B, and C) because the overall length of such oligonucleotide is 22, which exceeds the upper limit of the overall length of the modified oligonucleotide (20). Herein, if a description of an oligonucleotide is silent with respect to one or more parameter, such parameter is not limited. Thus, a modified oligonucleotide described only as having a gapmer sugar motif without further description may have any length, internucleoside linkage motif, and nucleobase motif. Unless otherwise indicated, all modifications are independent of nucleobase sequence.

Certain Conjugated Compounds

In certain embodiments, the compounds described herein comprise or consist of an oligonucleotide (modified or unmodified) and optionally one or more conjugate groups and/or terminal groups. Conjugate groups consist of one or more conjugate moiety and a conjugate linker which links the conjugate moiety to the oligonucleotide. Conjugate groups may be attached to either or both ends of an oligonucleotide and/or at any internal position. In certain embodiments, conjugate groups are attached to the 2′-position of a nucleoside of a modified oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, conjugate groups that are attached to either or both ends of an oligonucleotide are terminal groups. In certain such embodiments, conjugate groups or terminal groups are attached at the 3′ and/or 5′-end of oligonucleotides. In certain such embodiments, conjugate groups (or terminal groups) are attached at the 3′-end of oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, conjugate groups are attached near the 3′-end of oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, conjugate groups (or terminal groups) are attached at the 5′-end of oligonucleotides. In certain embodiments, conjugate groups are attached near the 5′-end of oligonucleotides.

In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide is modified. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide of a compound has a nucleobase sequence that is complementary to a target nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides are complementary to a messenger RNA (mRNA). In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides are complementary to a sense transcript.

Examples of terminal groups include but are not limited to conjugate groups, capping groups, phosphate moieties, protecting groups, modified or unmodified nucleosides, and two or more nucleosides that are independently modified or unmodified.

A. Certain Conjugate Groups

In certain embodiments, oligonucleotides are covalently attached to one or more conjugate groups. In certain embodiments, conjugate groups modify one or more properties of the attached oligonucleotide, including but not limited to pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, stability, binding, absorption, tissue distribution, cellular distribution, cellular uptake, charge and clearanceIn certain embodiments, conjugate groups impart a new property on the attached oligonucleotide, e.g., fluorophores or reporter groups that enable detection of the oligonucleotide.

Certain conjugate groups and conjugate moieties have been described previously, for example: cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86, 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1994, 4, 1053-1060), a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol (Manoharan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1992, 660, 306-309; Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1993, 3, 2765-2770), a thiocholesterol (Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1992, 20, 533-538), an aliphatic chain, e.g., do-decan-diol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaras et al., EMBO J., 1991, 10, 1111-1118; Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259, 327-330; Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75, 49-54), a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethyl-ammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654; Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1990, 18, 3777-3783), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1995, 14, 969-973), or adamantane acetic, a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1995, 1264, 229-237), . . . an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1996, i, 923-937),₌a tocopherol group (Nishina et al., Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids, 2015, 4, e220; doi:10.1038/mtna.2014.72 and Nishina et al., Molecular Therapy, 2008, 16, 734-740), or a GalNAc cluster (e.g., WO2014/179620).

1. Conjugate Moieties

Conjugate moieties include, without limitation, intercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, peptides, carbohydrates (e.g., GalNAc), vitamin moieties, polyethylene glycols, thioethers, polyethers, cholesterols, thiocholesterols, cholic acid moieties, folate, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, phenanthridine, anthraquinone, adamantane, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, fluorophores, and dyes.

In certain embodiments, a conjugate moiety comprises an active drug substance, for example, aspirin, warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen, suprofen, fen-bufen, ketoprofen, (S)-(+)-pranoprofen, carprofen, dansylsarcosine, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, fingolimod, flufenamic acid, folinic acid, a benzothiadiazide, chlorothiazide, a diazepine, indo-methicin, a barbiturate, a cephalosporin, a sulfa drug, an antidiabetic, an antibacterial or an antibiotic.

2. Conjugate Linkers

Conjugate moieties are attached to oligonucleotides through conjugate linkers. In certain compounds, a conjugate group is a single chemical bond (i.e. conjugate moiety is attached to an oligonucleotide via a conjugate linker through a single bond). In certain embodiments, the conjugate linker comprises a chain structure, such as a hydrocarbyl chain, or an oligomer of repeating units such as ethylene glycol, nucleosides, or amino acid units.

In certain embodiments, a conjugate linker comprises one or more groups selected from alkyl, amino, oxo, amide, disulfide, polyethylene glycol, ether, thioether, and hydroxylamino. In certain such embodiments, the conjugate linker comprises groups selected from alkyl, amino, oxo, amide and ether groups. In certain embodiments, the conjugate linker comprises groups selected from alkyl and amide groups. In certain embodiments, the conjugate linker comprises groups selected from alkyl and ether groups. In certain embodiments, the conjugate linker comprises at least one phosphorus moiety. In certain embodiments, the conjugate linker comprises at least one phosphate group. In certain embodiments, the conjugate linker includes at least one neutral linking group.

In certain embodiments, conjugate linkers, including the conjugate linkers described above, are bifunctional linking moieties, e.g., those known in the art to be useful for attaching conjugate groups to parent compounds, such as the oligonucleotides provided herein. In general, a bifunctional linking moiety comprises at least two functional groups. One of the functional groups is selected to bind to a particular site on a compound and the other is selected to bind to a conjugate group. Examples of functional groups used in a bifunctional linking moiety include but are not limited to electrophiles for reacting with nucleophilic groups and nucleophiles for reacting with electrophilic groups. In certain embodiments, bifunctional linking moieties comprise one or more groups selected from amino, hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, thiol, alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl.

Examples of conjugate linkers include but are not limited to pyrrolidine, 8-amino-3,6-dioxaoctanoic acid (ADO), succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SMCC) and 6-aminohexanoic acid (AHEX or AHA). Other conjugate linkers include but are not limited to substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl or substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, wherein a nonlimiting list of preferred substituent groups includes hydroxyl, amino, alkoxy, carboxy, benzyl, phenyl, nitro, thiol, thioalkoxy, halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl.

In certain embodiments, conjugate linkers comprise 1-10 linker-nucleosides. In certain embodiments, such linker-nucleosides are modified nucleosides. In certain embodiments such linker-nucleosides comprise a modified sugar moiety. In certain embodiments, linker-nucleosides are unmodified. In certain embodiments, linker-nucleosides comprise an optionally protected heterocyclic base selected from a purine, substituted purine, pyrimidine or substituted pyrimidine. In certain embodiments, a cleavable moiety is a nucleoside selected from uracil, thymine, cytosine, 4-N-benzoylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, 4-N-benzoyl-5-methylcytosine, adenine, 6-N-benzoyladenine, guanine and 2-N-isobutyrylguanine. It is typically desirable for linker-nucleosides to be cleaved from the compound after it reaches a target tissue. Accordingly, linker-nucleosides are typically linked to one another and to the remainder of the compound through cleavable bonds. In certain embodiments, such cleavable bonds are phosphodiester bonds.

Herein, linker-nucleosides are not considered to be part of the oligonucleotide. Accordingly, in embodiments in which a compound comprises an oligonucleotide consisting of a specified number or range of linked nucleosides and/or a specified percent complementarity to a reference nucleic acid and the compound also comprises a conjugate group comprising a conjugate linker comprising linker-nucleosides, those linker-nucleosides are not counted toward the length of the oligonucleotide and are not used in determining the percent complementarity of the oligonucleotide for the reference nucleic acid. For example, a compound may comprise (1) a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 8-30 nucleosides and (2) a conjugate group comprising 1-10 linker-nucleosides that are contiguous with the nucleosides of the modified oligonucleotide. The total number of contiguous linked nucleosides in such a compound is more than 30. Alternatively, an compound may comprise a modified oligonucleotide consisting of 8-30 nucleosides and no conjugate group. The total number of contiguous linked nucleosides in such a compound is no more than 30. Unless otherwise indicated conjugate linkers comprise no more than 10 linker-nucleosides. In certain embodiments, conjugate linkers comprise no more than 5 linker-nucleosides. In certain embodiments, conjugate linkers comprise no more than 3 linker-nucleosides. In certain embodiments, conjugate linkers comprise no more than 2 linker-nucleosides. In certain embodiments, conjugate linkers comprise no more than 1 linker-nucleoside.

In certain embodiments, it is desirable for a conjugate group to be cleaved from the oligonucleotide. For example, in certain circumstances compounds comprising a particular conjugate moiety are better taken up by a particular cell type, but once the compound has been taken up, it is desirable that the conjugate group be cleaved to release the unconjugated or parent oligonucleotide. Thus, certain conjugate may comprise one or more cleavable moieties, typically within the conjugate linker. In certain embodiments, a cleavable moiety is a cleavable bond. In certain embodiments, a cleavable moiety is a group of atoms comprising at least one cleavable bond. In certain embodiments, a cleavable moiety comprises a group of atoms having one, two, three, four, or more than four cleavable bonds. In certain embodiments, a cleavable moiety is selectively cleaved inside a cell or subcellular compartment, such as a lysosome. In certain embodiments, a cleavable moiety is selectively cleaved by endogenous enzymes, such as nucleases.

In certain embodiments, a cleavable bond is selected from among: an amide, an ester, an ether, one or both esters of a phosphodiester, a phosphate ester, a carbamate, or a disulfide. In certain embodiments, a cleavable bond is one or both of the esters of a phosphodiester. In certain embodiments, a cleavable moiety comprises a phosphate or phosphodiester. In certain embodiments, the cleavable moiety is a phosphate linkage between an oligonucleotide and a conjugate moiety or conjugate group.

In certain embodiments, a cleavable moiety comprises or consists of one or more linker-nucleosides. In certain such embodiments, one or more linker-nucleosides are linked to one another and/or to the remainder of the compound through cleavable bonds. In certain embodiments, such cleavable bonds are unmodified phosphodiester bonds. In certain embodiments, a cleavable moiety is 2′-deoxy nucleoside that is attached to either the 3′ or 5′-terminal nucleoside of an oligonucleotide by a phosphate internucleoside linkage and covalently attached to the remainder of the conjugate linker or conjugate moiety by a phosphate or phosphorothioate linkage. In certain such embodiments, the cleavable moiety is 2′-deoxyadenosine.

3. Certain Cell-Targeting Conjugate Moieties

In certain embodiments, a conjugate group comprises a cell-targeting conjugate moiety. In certain embodiments, a conjugate group has the general formula:

-   -   wherein n is from 1 to about 3, m is 0 when n is 1, m is 1 when         n is 2 or greater, j is 1 or 0, and k is 1 or 0.

In certain embodiments, n is 1, j is 1 and k is 0. In certain embodiments, n is 1, j is 0 and k is 1. In certain embodiments, n is 1, j is 1 and k is 1. In certain embodiments, n is 2, j is 1 and k is 0. In certain embodiments, n is 2, j is 0 and k is 1. In certain embodiments, n is 2, j is 1 and k is 1. In certain embodiments, n is 3, j is 1 and k is 0. In certain embodiments, n is 3, j is 0 and k is 1. In certain embodiments, n is 3, j is 1 and k is 1.

In certain embodiments, conjugate groups comprise cell-targeting moieties that have at least one tethered ligand. In certain embodiments, cell-targeting moieties comprise two tethered ligands covalently attached to a branching group. In certain embodiments, cell-targeting moieties comprise three tethered ligands covalently attached to a branching group.

In certain embodiments, the cell-targeting moiety comprises a branching group comprising one or more groups selected from alkyl, amino, oxo, amide, disulfide, polyethylene glycol, ether, thioether and hydroxylamino groups. In certain embodiments, the branching group comprises a branched aliphatic group comprising groups selected from alkyl, amino, oxo, amide, disulfide, polyethylene glycol, ether, thioether and hydroxylamino groups. In certain such embodiments, the branched aliphatic group comprises groups selected from alkyl, amino, oxo, amide and ether groups. In certain such embodiments, the branched aliphatic group comprises groups selected from alkyl, amino and ether groups. In certain such embodiments, the branched aliphatic group comprises groups selected from alkyl and ether groups. In certain embodiments, the branching group comprises a mono or polycyclic ring system.

In certain embodiments, each tether of a cell-targeting moiety comprises one or more groups selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, ether, thioether, disulfide, amino, oxo, amide, phosphodiester, and polyethylene glycol, in any combination. In certain embodiments, each tether is a linear aliphatic group comprising one or more groups selected from alkyl, ether, thioether, disulfide, amino, oxo, amide, and polyethylene glycol, in any combination. In certain embodiments, each tether is a linear aliphatic group comprising one or more groups selected from alkyl, phosphodiester, ether, amino, oxo, and amide, in any combination. In certain embodiments, each tether is a linear aliphatic group comprising one or more groups selected from alkyl, ether, amino, oxo, and amid, in any combination. In certain embodiments, each tether is a linear aliphatic group comprising one or more groups selected from alkyl, amino, and oxo, in any combination. In certain embodiments, each tether is a linear aliphatic group comprising one or more groups selected from alkyl and oxo, in any combination. In certain embodiments, each tether is a linear aliphatic group comprising one or more groups selected from alkyl and phosphodiester, in any combination. In certain embodiments, each tether comprises at least one phosphorus linking group or neutral linking group. In certain embodiments, each tether comprises a chain from about 6 to about 20 atoms in length. In certain embodiments, each tether comprises a chain from about 10 to about 18 atoms in length. In certain embodiments, each tether comprises about 10 atoms in chain length.

In certain embodiments, each ligand of a cell-targeting moiety has an affinity for at least one type of receptor on a target cell. In certain embodiments, each ligand has an affinity for at least one type of receptor on the surface of a mammalian liver cell. In certain embodiments, each ligand has an affinity for the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R). In certain embodiments, each ligand is a carbohydrate. In certain embodiments, each ligand is, independently selected from galactose, N-acetyl galactoseamine (GalNAc), mannose, glucose, glucoseamine and fucose. In certain embodiments, each ligand is N-acetyl galactoseamine (GalNAc). In certain embodiments, the cell-targeting moiety comprises 3 GalNAc ligands. In certain embodiments, the cell-targeting moiety comprises 2 GalNAc ligands. In certain embodiments, the cell-targeting moiety comprises 1 GalNAc ligand.

In certain embodiments, each ligand of a cell-targeting moiety is a carbohydrate, carbohydrate derivative, modified carbohydrate, polysaccharide, modified polysaccharide, or polysaccharide derivative. In certain such embodiments, the conjugate group comprises a carbohydrate cluster (see, e.g., Maier et al., “Synthesis of Antisense Oligonucleotides Conjugated to a Multivalent Carbohydrate Cluster for Cellular Targeting,” Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2003, 14, 18-29, or Rensen et al., “Design and Synthesis of Novel N-Acetylgalactosamine-Terminated Glycolipids for Targeting of Lipoproteins to the Hepatic Asiaglycoprotein Receptor,” J. Med. Chem. 2004, 47, 5798-5808, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety). In certain such embodiments, each ligand is an amino sugar or a thio sugar. For example, amino sugars may be selected from any number of compounds known in the art, such as sialic acid, α-D-galactosamine, β-muramic acid, 2-deoxy-2-methylamino-L-glucopyranose, 4,6-dideoxy-4-formamido-2,3-di-O-methyl-D-mannopyranose, 2-deoxy-2-sulfoamino-D-glucopyranose and N-sulfo-D-glucosamine, and N-glycoloyl-α-neuraminic acid. For example, thio sugars may be selected from 5-Thio-β-D-glucopyranose, methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1-thio-6-O-trityl-α-D-glucopyranoside, 4-thio-β-D-galactopyranose, and ethyl 3,4,6,7-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-1,5-dithio-α-D-gluco-heptopyranoside.

In certain embodiments, conjugate groups comprise a cell-targeting moiety having the formula:

In certain embodiments, conjugate groups comprise a cell-targeting moiety having the formula:

In certain embodiments, conjugate groups comprise a cell-targeting moiety having the formula:

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise a conjugate group described herein as “LICA-1”. LICA-1 is shown below without the optional cleavable moiety at the end of the conjugate linker:

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise LICA-1 and a cleavable moiety within the conjugate linker have the formula:

-   -   wherein oligo is an oligonucleotide.

Representative publications that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted conjugate groups and compounds comprising conjugate groups, tethers, conjugate linkers, branching groups, ligands, cleavable moieties as well as other modifications include without limitation, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,994,517, 6,300,319, 6,660,720, 6,906,182, 7,262,177, 7,491,805, 8,106,022, 7,723,509, 9,127,276, US 2006/0148740, US 2011/0123520, WO 2013/033230 and WO 2012/037254, Biessen et al., J. Med. Chem. 1995, 38, 1846-1852, Lee et al., Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 2011, 19, 2494-2500, Rensen et al., J. Biol. Chem. 2001, 276, 37577-37584, Rensen et al., J. Med. Chem. 2004, 47, 5798-5808, Sliedregt et al., J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 609-618, and Valentijn et al., Tetrahedron, 1997, 53, 759-770, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In certain embodiments, compounds described herein comprise modified oligonucleotides comprising a gapmer or fully modified motif and a conjugate group comprising at least one, two, or three GalNAc ligands. In certain embodiments compounds described herein comprise a conjugate group found in any of the following references: Lee, Carbohydr Res, 1978, 67, 509-514; Connolly et al., J Biol Chem, 1982, 257, 939-945; Pavia et at, Int J Pep Protein Res, 1983, 22, 539-548; Lee et al., Biochem, 1984, 23, 4255-4261; Lee et al., Glycoconjugate J, 1987, 4, 317-328; Toyokuni et al., Tetrahedron Lett, 1990, 31, 2673-2676; Biessen et al., J Med Chem, 1995, 38, 1538-1546; Valentijn et al., Tetrahedron, 1997, 53, 759-770; Kim et al., Tetrahedron Lett, 1997, 38, 3487-3490; Lee et al., Bioconjug Chem, 1997, 8, 762-765; Kato et al., Glycobiol, 2001, 11, 821-829; Rensen et al., J Biol Chem, 2001, 276, 37577-37584; Lee et al., Methods Enzymol, 2003, 362, 38-43; Westerlind et al., Glycoconj J, 2004, 21, 227-241; Lee et al., Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 2006, 16(19), 5132-5135; Maierhofer et al., Bioorg Med Chem, 2007, 15, 7661-7676; Khorev et al., Bioorg Med Chem, 2008, 16, 5216-5231; Lee et al., Bioorg Med Chem, 2011, 19, 2494-2500; Kornilova et al., Analyt Biochem, 2012, 425, 43-46; Pujol et al., Angew Chemie Int Ed Engl, 2012, 51, 7445-7448; Biessen et al., J Med Chem, 1995, 38, 1846-1852; Sliedregt et al., J Med Chem, 1999, 42, 609-618; Rensen et al., J Med Chem, 2004, 47, 5798-5808; Rensen et al., Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 2006, 26, 169-175; van Rossenberg et al., Gene Ther, 2004, 11, 457-464; Sato et al., J Am Chem Soc, 2004, 126, 14013-14022; Lee et al., J Org Chem, 2012, 77, 7564-7571; Biessen et al., FASEB J, 2000, 14, 1784-1792; Rajur et al., Bioconjug Chem, 1997, 8, 935-940; Duff et al., Methods Enzymol, 2000, 313, 297-321; Maier et al., Bioconjug Chem, 2003, 14, 18-29; Jayaprakash et al., Org Lett, 2010, 12, 5410-5413; Manoharan, Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev, 2002, 12, 103-128; Merwin et al., Bioconjug Chem, 1994, 5, 612-620; Tomiya et al., Bioorg Med Chem, 2013, 21, 5275-5281; International applications WO1998/013381; WO2011/038356; WO1997/046098; WO2008/098788; WO2004/101619; WO2012/037254; WO2011/120053; WO2011/100131; WO2011/163121; WO2012/177947; WO2013/033230; WO2013/075035; WO2012/083185; WO2012/083046; WO2009/082607; WO2009/134487; WO2010/144740; WO2010/148013; WO1997/020563; WO2010/088537; WO2002/043771; WO2010/129709; WO2012/068187; WO2009/126933; WO2004/024757; WO2010/054406; WO2012/089352; WO2012/089602; WO2013/166121; WO2013/165816; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,751,219; 8,552,163; 6,908,903; 7,262,177; 5,994,517; 6,300,319; 8,106,022; 7,491,805; 7,491,805; 7,582,744; 8,137,695; 6,383,812; 6,525,031; 6,660,720; 7,723,509; 8,541,548; 8,344,125; 8,313,772; 8,349,308; 8,450,467; 8,501,930; 8,158,601; 7,262,177; 6,906,182; 6,620,916; 8,435,491; 8,404,862; 7,851,615; Published U.S. Patent Application Publications US2011/0097264; US2011/0097265; US2013/0004427; US2005/0164235; US2006/0148740; US2008/0281044; US2010/0240730; US2003/0119724; US2006/0183886; US2008/0206869; US2011/0269814; US2009/0286973; US2011/0207799; US2012/0136042; US2012/0165393; US2008/0281041; US2009/0203135; US2012/0035115; US2012/0095075; US2012/0101148; US2012/0128760; US2012/0157509; US2012/0230938; US2013/0109817; US2013/0121954; US2013/0178512; US2013/0236968; US2011/0123520; US2003/0077829; US2008/0108801; and US2009/0203132; each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Compositions and Methods for Formulating Pharmaceutical Compositions

Compounds described herein may be admixed with pharmaceutically acceptable active or inert substances for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions or formulations. Compositions and methods for the formulation of pharmaceutical compositions are dependent upon a number of criteria, including, but not limited to, route of administration, or extent of disease.

Certain embodiments provide pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more compounds or a salt thereof. In certain embodiments, the compounds are antisense compounds or oligomeric compounds. In certain embodiments, the compounds comprise or consist of a modified oligonucleotide. In certain such embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition comprises a sterile saline solution and one or more compound. In certain embodiments, such pharmaceutical composition consists of a sterile saline solution and one or more compound. In certain embodiments, the sterile saline is pharmaceutical grade saline. In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition comprises one or more compound and sterile water. In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition consists of one compound and sterile water. In certain embodiments, the sterile water is pharmaceutical grade water. In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition comprises one or more compound and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition consists of one or more compound and sterile PBS. In certain embodiments, the sterile PBS is pharmaceutical grade PBS. Compositions and methods for the formulation of pharmaceutical compositions are dependent upon a number of criteria, including, but not limited to, route of administration, or extent of disease.

A compound described herein targeted to PCSK9 nucleic acid can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions by combining the compound with a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent is water, such as sterile water suitable for injection. Accordingly, in one embodiment, employed in the methods described herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound targeted to PCSK9 nucleic acid and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable diluent is water. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises or consists of a modified oligonucleotide provided herein.

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds provided herein encompass any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other oligonucleotide which, upon administration to an animal, including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metabolite or residue thereof. In certain embodiments, the compounds are antisense compounds or oligomeric compounds. In certain embodiments, the compound comprises or consists of a modified oligonucleotide. Accordingly, for example, the disclosure is also drawn to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds, prodrugs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such prodrugs, and other bioequivalents. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, sodium and potassium salts.

A prodrug can include the incorporation of additional nucleosides at one or both ends of a compound which are cleaved by endogenous nucleases within the body, to form the active compound.

In certain embodiments, the compounds or compositions further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

Certain Selected Compounds

Approximately 1540 newly designed compounds and a few previously disclosed compounds of various lengths, chemistries, and motifs were tested for their effect on human PCSK9 mRNA in vitro in several cell types (Example 1-2). Of 1540 compounds tested for potency at a single dose in vitro, 183 selected compounds were tested for dose dependent inhibition in HepG2 cells (Example 2). Of the 183 compounds tested by dose response assays, 134 oligonucleotides were selected for single dose in vivo tolerability in rodents. These 134 oligonucleotides were conjugated at the 3′-end with THA-C6-GalNAc3-(3R,5S)-5-(hydroxymethyl) pyrrolidin-3-ol phosphate endcap (henceforth referred to as 3′-THA).

In the single dose rodent tolerability model, BALB/c mice are dosed with a high concentration of 3′-THA oligonucleotide and liver function markers, such as alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, are measured (Example 3). ISIS 863413 (SEQ ID NO: 1096), ISIS 863419 (SEQ ID NO: 1419), ISIS 863424 (SEQ ID NO: 1297), ISIS 863425 (SEQ ID NO: 1528), ISIS 863427 (SEQ ID NO: 1145), ISIS 863433 (SEQ ID NO: 1223), ISIS 863434 (SEQ ID NO: 377), ISIS 863436 (SEQ ID NO: 763), ISIS 863437 (SEQ ID NO: 994), ISIS 863438 (SEQ ID NO: 1071), ISIS 863439 (SEQ ID NO: 1147), ISIS 863441 (SEQ ID NO: 1302), ISIS 863444 (SEQ ID NO: 1149), ISIS 863445 (SEQ ID NO: 455), ISIS 863448 (SEQ ID NO: 1380), ISIS 863452 (SEQ ID NO: 691), ISIS 863472 (SEQ ID NO: 926), ISIS 863473 (SEQ ID NO: 1233), ISIS 863474 (SEQ ID NO: 619), ISIS 863475 (SEQ ID NO: 388), ISIS 863477 (SEQ ID NO: 1542), ISIS 863479 (SEQ ID NO: 1158), ISIS 863480 (SEQ ID NO: 1235), ISIS 863481 (SEQ ID NO: 389), ISIS 863482 (SEQ ID NO: 1312), ISIS 863483 (SEQ ID NO: 1240), ISIS 863484 (SEQ ID NO: 549), ISIS 863485 (SEQ ID NO: 550), ISIS 863486 (SEQ ID NO: 781), ISIS 863489 (SEQ ID NO: 939), ISIS 863490 (SEQ ID NO: 1016), ISIS 863491 (SEQ ID NO: 1243), ISIS 863493 (SEQ ID NO: 629), ISIS 863494 (SEQ ID NO: 1017), ISIS 863495 (SEQ ID NO: 1092), ISIS 863496 (SEQ ID NO: 1244), ISIS 863497 (SEQ ID NO: 554), ISIS 863498 (SEQ ID NO: 478), ISIS 863499 (SEQ ID NO: 1094), ISIS 863502 (SEQ ID NO: 563), ISIS 863506 (SEQ ID NO: 410), ISIS 863507 (SEQ ID NO: 1411), ISIS 863509 (SEQ ID NO: 721), ISIS 863510 (SEQ ID NO: 1258), ISIS 863511 (SEQ ID NO: 645), ISIS 863512 (SEQ ID NO: 955), ISIS 863514 (SEQ ID NO: 1413), ISIS 863516 (SEQ ID NO: 881), ISIS 863517 (SEQ ID NO: 648), ISIS 863518 (SEQ ID NO: 725), ISIS 863520 (SEQ ID NO: 1111), ISIS 863522 (SEQ ID NO: 1188), ISIS 863524 (SEQ ID NO: 885), ISIS 863525 (SEQ ID NO: 504), ISIS 863526 (SEQ ID NO: 1043), ISIS 863527 (SEQ ID NO: 1195), ISIS 863531 (SEQ ID NO: 426), ISIS 863533 (SEQ ID NO: 427), ISIS 863536 (SEQ ID NO: 585), ISIS 863537 (SEQ ID NO: 1047), ISIS 863538 (SEQ ID NO: 353), ISIS 863539 (SEQ ID NO: 1352), ISIS 863541 (SEQ ID NO: 1203), ISIS 863545 (SEQ ID NO: 1516), ISIS 863547 (SEQ ID NO: 1213), ISIS 863548 (SEQ ID NO: 367), ISIS 863549 (SEQ ID NO: 1061), ISIS 863550 (SEQ ID NO: 523), ISIS 863552 (SEQ ID NO: 831), and ISIS 863553 (SEQ ID NO: 908) were considered tolerable in this study and were selected for further evaluation in a transgenic mouse model.

In the PCSK9 transgenic mice tolerability model, mice were dosed with 3′-THA conjugated oligonucleotides and plasma levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were measured (Example 4). ISIS 863433, ISIS 863490, ISIS 863512, ISIS 863527, ISIS 863538, ISIS 863425, ISIS 863438, ISIS 863439, ISIS 863444, ISIS 863413, ISIS 863434, ISIS 863436, ISIS 863494, and ISIS 863539 were found tolerable. The selected oligonucleotide sequences were conjugated at the 5′-end with Trishexylamino-(THA)-C6GalNAC3 endcap (henceforth referred to as 5′-THA) and tested in the CD-1 mouse model. The 5′THA conjugated oligonucleotides are ISIS 845219, ISIS 863568, ISIS 863576, ISIS 863577, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863637, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, ISIS 863681, and ISIS 863682.

In the CD-1 mice tolerability model, mice were dosed for six weeks with varying doses of antisense oligonucleotide and tolerability markers, such as liver and kidney function markers (plasma levels of ALT, AST, albumin, BUN, creatinine, and bilirubin), hematology markers (blood cell counts for RBC, WBC, platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, as well as hemoglobin, hematocrit, and MCV content), and body and organ weights were measured (Example 5). Only those oligonucleotides were selected for further evaluation in the rat model, where treatment yielded plasma levels of such markers which were within the expected range after treatment with antisense oligonucleotides. ISIS 863568, ISIS 863576, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681 were selected for further study in the rat model.

In the Sprague-Dawley rat model, similarly, the rats were dosed for 6 weeks with antisense oligonucleotides and tolerability markers, such as liver function markers (plasma levels of ALT, AST, albumin, BUN, creatinine, and bilirubin), kidney function markers (urine levels of creatinine and total protein), and weekly body weights, and final organ weights were measured (Example 6).

These oligonucleotides were also tested for their viscosity (Example 8) and all found to be optimal in their viscosity under the criteria tested.

ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681 were tested in a dose-dependent four-week study in the PCSK9 transgenic mice model for efficacy (Example 7). At the end of 4 weeks, mice liver was analyzed for PCSK9 mRNA expression levels and the ED₅₀ was calculated. In addition, PCSK9 plasma protein levels, LDL-cholesterol plasma levels, and LDL-receptor levels in the liver were measured. It was observed that treatment with the antisense oligonucleotides resulted in inhibition of PCSK9 liver mRNA expression levels, reduction in LDL-cholesterol levels in the plasma, and corresponding increase in LDL receptor levels in the liver. Specifically, ISIS 863633 treatment was found to be efficacious.

ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681 were tested for activity, pharmacokinetic profile and tolerability in a 12-week study in cynomolgus monkeys (Example 9). Treatment with the compounds that were fully cross-reactive with the rhesus monkey gene sequence caused reduction of PCSK9 mRNA expression in liver tissue. Specifically, treatment with ISIS 863633, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681 caused a reduction of PCSK9 mRNA expression in liver tissue, compared to the PBS control. It was noted that ISIS 863633 caused the highest reduction of PCSK9 mRNA expression compared to the PBS control. Changes in PCSK9 protein levels, LDL-cholesterol levels, total cholesterol levels, and hepatic LDL-receptor levels are a consequence of inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA levels. Treatment with ISIS 863633, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681 caused decreases in PCSK9 protein levels, LDL-cholesterol levels, total cholesterol levels, and induction of hepatic LDL-receptor levels, with ISIS 863633 causing the highest change. Treatment with the antisense oligonucleotides did not cause any changes in HDL-cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Hence, in terms of activity, ISIS 863633 was the most effective in the monkey study. Treatment with the compounds was well tolerated in the monkeys, in particular, treatment with ISIS 863633.

The new compounds were compared with previously designed compounds, including ISIS 405879 and ISIS 405995, which have previously been determined to be some of the most potent antisense compounds in vitro (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,084,437), as well as ISIS 431131 and ISIS 480604, which have been previously described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,127,276 (Example 10). The head-to-head comparison demonstrated that ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681 were more efficacious than any of the previously publicly disclosed oligonucleotides.

Accordingly, provided herein are compounds with any one or more of the improved properties. In certain embodiments, the compounds as described herein are potent and tolerable.

EXAMPLES

The Examples below describe the screening process to identify lead compounds targeted to PCSK9. Out of over 1540 oligonucleotides that were screened, ISIS 863568, ISIS 863579, ISIS 863581, ISIS 863582, ISIS 863587, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863655, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681 emerged as the top lead compounds. In particular, ISIS 863633 exhibited the best combination of properties in terms of potency and tolerability out of over 1540 oligonucleotides.

Non-Limiting Disclosure and Incorporation by Reference

Although the sequence listing accompanying this filing identifies each sequence as either “RNA” or “DNA” as required, in reality, those sequences may be modified with any combination of chemical modifications. One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that such designation as “RNA” or “DNA” to describe modified oligonucleotides is, in certain instances, arbitrary. For example, an oligonucleotide comprising a nucleoside comprising a 2′-OH sugar moiety and a thymine base could be described as a DNA having a modified sugar (2′-OH for the natural 2′-H of DNA) or as an RNA having a modified base (thymine (methylated uracil) for natural uracil of RNA). As provided herein, a designation of ‘0’ for mRNA inhibition assays merely indicates that the antisense oligonucleotide did not inhibit mRNA expression levels.

Accordingly, nucleic acid sequences provided herein, including, but not limited to those in the sequence listing, are intended to encompass nucleic acids containing any combination of natural or modified RNA and/or DNA, including, but not limited to such nucleic acids having modified nucleobases. By way of further example and without limitation, an oligonucleotide having the nucleobase sequence “ATCGATCG” encompasses any oligonucleotides having such nucleobase sequence, whether modified or unmodified, including, but not limited to, such compounds comprising RNA bases, such as those having sequence “AUCGAUCG” and those having some DNA bases and some RNA bases such as “AUCGATCG” and compounds having other modified nucleobases, such as “AT^(m)CGAUCG,” wherein mC indicates a cytosine base comprising a methyl group at the 5-position.

While certain compounds, compositions and methods described herein have been described with specificity in accordance with certain embodiments, the following examples serve only to illustrate the compounds described herein and are not intended to limit the same. Each of the references recited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Example 1: Antisense Inhibition of Human PCSK9 in HepG2 Cells by 3-10-3 cEt Gapmers

Antisense oligonucleotides were designed targeting a PCSK9 nucleic acid and were tested for their effects on PCSK9 mRNA in vitro. The chimeric antisense oligonucleotides in the Tables below were designed as 3-10-3 cEt gapmers. The gapmers are 16 nucleosides in length, wherein the central gap segment is comprised of ten 2′-deoxynucleosides and is flanked by wing segments on the 5′ end and the 3′ end of three nucleosides each. Each nucleoside in the 5′ wing segment and each nucleoside in the 3′ wing segment has a cEt sugar modification. The internucleoside linkages throughout each gapmer are phosphorothioate (P═S) linkages. All cytosine residues throughout each gapmer are 5-methylcytosines.

“Start site” indicates the 5′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted in the human gene sequence. “Stop site” indicates the 3′-most nucleoside to which the gapmer is targeted human gene sequence. Each gapmer listed in the Tables below is targeted to either the human PCSK9 mRNA, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 1 (GENBANK Accession No. NM_174936.3) or the human PCSK9 genomic sequence, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 2 (GENBANK Accession No. NC_000001.11 truncated from nucleotides 55036001 to 55068000). ‘n/a’ indicates that the antisense oligonucleotide does not target that particular gene sequence with 100% complementarity.

The antisense oligonucleotides were tested in a series of experiments that had similar culture conditions. The results for each experiment are presented in separate tables shown below.

Study 1

Cultured HepG2 cells at a density of 20,000 cells per well were transfected using electroporation with 1,000 nM antisense oligonucleotide. ISIS 431131, previously disclosed in WO2014179620, was also included in the study as a benchmark oligonucleotide. After a treatment period of approximately 24 hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and PCSK9 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Human PCSK9 primer probe set from ABI (ID# Hs03037355_m1) was used to measure mRNA levels. PCSK9 mRNA levels were adjusted according to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results are presented as percent inhibition of PCSK9, relative to untreated control cells. Several of the newly designed oligonucleotides were more potent than the previously disclosed oligonucleotide, ISIS 431131.

TABLE 1 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ ID NO: 1 SEQ ID NO: 1 % SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ISIS NO Start Site Stop Site Sequence inhibition Start Site Stop Site ID NO 431131 1015 1034 GTCACACTTGCTGGCCTGTC  3 N/A N/A  3 859373 N/A N/A TCTGCCGTCCTTCCCA 36  4562  4577  4 859377 N/A N/A AGCATCTGCCGTCCTT 62  4566  4581  5 859381 N/A N/A TGTCAAGCACCACAGC 31  5010  5025  6 859385 N/A N/A TGACTTGTCAAGCACC 61  5015  5030  7 859389 N/A N/A ATAAGTGACTTGTCAA 45  5020  5035  8 859393 N/A N/A GCATTGTAAGTTCACT 84  5138  5153  9 859397 N/A N/A GCTTGCATTGTAAGTT 29  5142  5157 10 859401 N/A N/A GGTTTTCCCAGCTCTG 85  5897  5912 11 859405 N/A N/A CTCTGGTTTTCCCAGC 72  5901  5916 12 859409 N/A N/A CCACCTCTGGTTTTCC 67  5905  5920 13 859413 N/A N/A GTCTGCTCCAACTGCT 43  6714  6729 14 859417 N/A N/A CTCTTGTCTGCTCCAA 55  6719  6734 15 859421 N/A N/A TTTAGCTCTTGTCTGC 45  6724  6739 16 859425 N/A N/A GCAAGTCCCTGCTAGA 18 11238 11253 17 859429 N/A N/A CACCTGCAAGTCCCTG 15 11243 11258 18 859433 N/A N/A ATTGCCACCTGCAAGT  4 11248 11263 19 859437 N/A N/A TCATTCTCTCCTCAGG 58 11294 11309 20 859441 N/A N/A TGGACCCACCACATTG 34 11383 11398 21 859445 N/A N/A TGCATGGACCCACCAC 61 11387 11402 22 859449 N/A N/A CATGTTGCATGGACCC 61 11392 11407 23 859453 N/A N/A ACAGTAGCCCCCCAAC 46 11608 11623 24 859457 N/A N/A TCACACAGTAGCCCCC 52 11612 11627 25 859461 N/A N/A AAAGTCACACAGTAGC 51 11616 11631 26 859465 N/A N/A GGTCACACAGTTTGGG 58 11639 11654 27 859469 N/A N/A ACATATGCAAGGTCAC 74 11649 11664 28 859473 N/A N/A ACTCAGACATATGCAA 32 11655 11670 29 859477 N/A N/A AGTGTCCCTCTTGGTC 59 11950 11965 30 859481 N/A N/A TGCCAGTGTCCCTCTT 37 11954 11969 31 859485 N/A N/A TGATCCTCTGCCAGTG 58 11962 11977 32 859489 N/A N/A TCTGTGATCCTCTGCC 50 11966 11981 33 859493 N/A N/A GGTCTCTGTGATCCTC 67 11970 11985 34 859497 N/A N/A AGCTCTAGGGCCCATG  6 12671 12686 35 859501 N/A N/A AGCCAGCTCTAGGGCC  0 12675 12690 36 859505 N/A N/A GTGGGTGCTCAAAACG 28 12924 12939 37 859509 N/A N/A AATAATGCCCCCGTAG 26 13176 13191 38 859513 N/A N/A CTGGTTAATAATGCCC 47 13182 13197 39 859517 N/A N/A CTGGATACATTGGCAG 25 14125 14140 40 859521 N/A N/A CTCTGAGTGTGTTAGG 54 14473 14488 41 859525 N/A N/A TGCTCTCTGAGTGTGT 26 14477 14492 42 859529 N/A N/A GCATGCTGAGCAGGTC 78 14541 14556 43 859533 N/A N/A TGTAGCATGCTGAGCA 73 14545 14560 44 859537 N/A N/A ATTCAGTGGCTGCTCT  0 14755 14770 45 859541 N/A N/A GAGCAATTCAGTGGCT 24 14760 14775 46 859310 979  994 TCCTCGGGCACATTCT 34 16371 16386 47 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT  8 16705 16720 48 859545 N/A N/A ATTTAGCAGCTACGGC 35 17441 17456 49 859549 N/A N/A CAACTATTTAGCAGCT 36 17446 17461 50 859553 N/A N/A AGGTTACCGCTGTCAG 73 20914 20929 51 859557 N/A N/A GACCTAGGTTACCGCT 33 20919 20934 52 859314 1498 1513 CCACTCTGTGACACAA 79 21470 21485 53 859318 1503 1518 ATGTCCCACTCTGTGA 49 21475 21490 54 859561 N/A N/A CTCGAAGGTAAGCCGC 66 21891 21906 55 859565 N/A N/A CAGCACTGTCCTGCAG 20 22880 22895 56 859569 N/A N/A TTTTTGCTGGTTTGAG 34 23030 23045 57 859573 N/A N/A CACTTTTTTGCTGGTT 58 23034 23049 58 859577 N/A N/A AATTCCACTTTTTTGC 15 23039 23054 59 859581 N/A N/A ATCTGTGCACTATCCT 28 23069 23084 60 859585 N/A N/A TGGCATCTGTGCACTA 55 23073 23088 61 859589 N/A N/A TCTCACACGAGCATTA 16 23176 23191 62 859593 N/A N/A CTGCCTCTCACACGAG 46 23181 23196 63 859597 N/A N/A TCTTATGGAGGAGGAA 23 23853 23868 64 859601 N/A N/A TGTTTTCGACACAGGG 68 24225 24240 65 859605 N/A N/A GGCATGTTTTCGACAC 68 24229 24244 66 859609 N/A N/A CATCTTTTCAGTACTC 43 26516 26531 67 859613 N/A N/A ATCGCATCTTTTCAGT 31 26520 26535 68 859322 2429 2444 CTGTCACTGGAGCTCC 26 27572 27587 69 859325 2495 2510 GTCGGAACCATTTTAA 34 27638 27653 70 859329 2501 2516 GGACAAGTCGGAACCA 29 27644 27659 71 859333 2505 2520 AGAGGGACAAGTCGGA 61 27648 27663 72 859337 3461 3476 ATCTCCGCCAGGCCAG 24 28604 28619 73 859341 3465 3480 AAGCATCTCCGCCAGG 68 28608 28623 74 859345 3470 3485 CTTAGAAGCATCTCCG 61 28613 28628 75 859349 3476 3491 CCATGCCTTAGAAGCA 58 28619 28634 76 859353 3538 3553 TGTCTGCTTGCTTGGG 62 28681 28696 77 859357 3544 3559 GATAAATGTCTGCTTG 37 28687 28702 78 859361 3593 3608 GTCTAGAAAAGTTGGC 63 28736 28751 79 859365 3597 3612 ACAGGTCTAGAAAAGT 64 28740 28755 80 859369 3606 3621 AAAAGCAAAACAGGTC 33 28749 28764 81

TABLE 2 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ ID NO: 1 SEQ ID NO: 1 % SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ISIS NO Start Site Stop Site Sequence inhibition Start Site Stop Site ID NO 431131 1015 1034 GTCACACTTGCTGGCCTGTC  0 N/A N/A   3 859374 N/A N/A ATCTGCCGTCCTTCCC 42  4563  4578  82 859378 N/A N/A CAGCATCTGCCGTCCT 62  4567  4582  83 859382 N/A N/A CTTGTCAAGCACCACA 61  5012  5027  84 859386 N/A N/A GTGACTTGTCAAGCAC 10  5016  5031  85 859390 N/A N/A TGTAAGTTCACTCATG 56  5134  5149  86 859394 N/A N/A TGCATTGTAAGTTCAC 71  5139  5154  87 859398 N/A N/A GGGCTTGCATTGTAAG 13  5144  5159  88 859402 N/A N/A TGGTTTTCCCAGCTCT 78  5898  5913  89 859406 N/A N/A CCTCTGGTTTTCCCAG 61  5902  5917  90 859410 N/A N/A TCCACCTCTGGTTTTC 41  5906  5921  91 859414 N/A N/A TTGTCTGCTCCAACTG 39  6716  6731  92 859418 N/A N/A GCTCTTGTCTGCTCCA 71  6720  6735  93 859422 N/A N/A TATAAATCTCCCATCC  0  7280  7295  94 859426 N/A N/A CTGCAAGTCCCTGCTA 12 11240 11255  95 859430 N/A N/A CCACCTGCAAGTCCCT 26 11244 11259  96 859434 N/A N/A CTCTCCTCAGGCCAGG 64 11289 11304  97 859438 N/A N/A CCCACCACATTGCATC 37 11379 11394  98 859442 N/A N/A ATGGACCCACCACATT 10 11384 11399  99 859446 N/A N/A TTGCATGGACCCACCA 40 11388 11403 100 859450 N/A N/A CGAGAACCGGTAAGGG 34 11447 11462 101 859454 N/A N/A CACAGTAGCCCCCCAA 32 11609 11624 102 859458 N/A N/A GTCACACAGTAGCCCC 69 11613 11628 103 859462 N/A N/A GCAAAGTCACACAGTA 64 11618 11633 104 859466 N/A N/A AGGTCACACAGTTTGG 83 11640 11655 105 859470 N/A N/A GACATATGCAAGGTCA 40 11650 11665 106 859474 N/A N/A TCCCTCTTGGTCTCTG 55 11946 11961 107 859478 N/A N/A CAGTGTCCCTCTTGGT 67 11951 11966 108 859482 N/A N/A CTGCCAGTGTCCCTCT  1 11955 11970 109 859486 N/A N/A GTGATCCTCTGCCAGT 35 11963 11978 110 859490 N/A N/A CTCTGTGATCCTCTGC 68 11967 11982 111 859494 N/A N/A GGGTCTCTGTGATCCT 33 11971 11986 112 859498 N/A N/A CAGCTCTAGGGCCCAT 56 12672 12687 113 859502 N/A N/A CAGCCAGCTCTAGGGC 31 12676 12691 114 859506 N/A N/A AGTGGGTGCTCAAAAC 23 12925 12940 115 859510 N/A N/A TTAATAATGCCCCCGT 32 13178 13193 116 859514 N/A N/A CCTGGTTAATAATGCC 36 13183 13198 117 859518 N/A N/A GAGTGTGTTAGGAGCT 83 14469 14484 118 859522 N/A N/A TCTCTGAGTGTGTTAG 21 14474 14489 119 859526 N/A N/A CTTGCTCTCTGAGTGT 42 14479 14494 120 859530 N/A N/A AGCATGCTGAGCAGGT 54 14542 14557 121 859534 N/A N/A CTGTAGCATGCTGAGC 71 14546 14561 122 859538 N/A N/A AATTCAGTGGCTGCTC 27 14756 14771 123 859542 N/A N/A AGAGCAATTCAGTGGC 42 14761 14776 124 859311  981  996 CCTCCTCGGGCACATT 14 16373 16388 125 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT  0 16705 16720  48 859546 N/A N/A CTATTTAGCAGCTACG 57 17443 17458 126 859550 N/A N/A TCAACTATTTAGCAGC 56 17447 17462 127 859554 N/A N/A TAGGTTACCGCTGTCA 47 20915 20930 128 859558 N/A N/A GGACCTAGGTTACCGC 49 20920 20935 129 859315 1499 1514 CCCACTCTGTGACACA 94 21471 21486 130 859319 1505 1520 TGATGTCCCACTCTGT 31 21477 21492 131 859562 N/A N/A GTCCTGCAGCCTCTAG 30 22873 22888 132 859566 N/A N/A CCAGCACTGTCCTGCA 54 22881 22896 133 859570 N/A N/A TTTTTTGCTGGTTTGA 33 23031 23046 134 859574 N/A N/A CCACTTTTTTGCTGGT 21 23035 23050 135 859578 N/A N/A CAATTCCACTTTTTTG 41 23040 23055 136 859582 N/A N/A CATCTGTGCACTATCC 48 23070 23085 137 859586 N/A N/A ATGGCATCTGTGCACT 30 23074 23089 138 859590 N/A N/A CCTCTCACACGAGCAT 48 23178 23193 139 859594 N/A N/A TCTGCCTCTCACACGA 29 23182 23197 140 859598 N/A N/A TTCGACACAGGGTAGC 67 24221 24236 141 859602 N/A N/A ATGTTTTCGACACAGG 66 24226 24241 142 859606 N/A N/A TGGGCATGTTTTCGAC  0 24231 24246 143 859610 N/A N/A GCATCTTTTCAGTACT 55 26517 26532 144 859614 N/A N/A CATCGCATCTTTTCAG 40 26521 26536 145 468484 2430 2445 GCTGTCACTGGAGCTC 46 27573 27588 146 859326 2497 2512 AAGTCGGAACCATTTT 56 27640 27655 147 859330 2502 2517 GGGACAAGTCGGAACC 57 27645 27660 148 859334 3458 3473 TCCGCCAGGCCAGTGA 33 28601 28616 149 859338 3462 3477 CATCTCCGCCAGGCCA 57 28605 28620 150 859342 3466 3481 GAAGCATCTCCGCCAG 56 28609 28624 151 859346 3472 3487 GCCTTAGAAGCATCTC 67 28615 28630 152 859350 3477 3492 ACCATGCCTTAGAAGC 41 28620 28635 153 859354 3540 3555 AATGTCTGCTTGCTTG 69 28683 28698 154 859358 3546 3561 AAGATAAATGTCTGCT 69 28689 28704 155 859362 3594 3609 GGTCTAGAAAAGTTGG 51 28737 28752 156 859366 3602 3617 GCAAAACAGGTCTAGA 52 28745 28760 157 859370 3632 3647 ACCCAGAATAAATATC 28 28775 28790 158

TABLE 3 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ ID NO: 1 SEQ ID NO: 1 % SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ISIS NO Start Site Stop Site Sequence inhibition Start Site Stop Site ID NO 431131 1015 1034 GTCACACTTGCTGGCCTGTC 10 N/A N/A   3 859375 N/A N/A CATCTGCCGTCCTTCC 28  4564  4579 159 859379 N/A N/A CCAGCATCTGCCGTCC 55  4568  4583 160 859383 N/A N/A ACTTGTCAAGCACCAC 66  5013  5028 161 859387 N/A N/A AGTGACTTGTCAAGCA 84  5017  5032 162 859391 N/A N/A ATTGTAAGTTCACTCA 70  5136  5151 163 859395 N/A N/A TTGCATTGTAAGTTCA 82  5140  5155 164 859399 N/A N/A AAATTGAATGAATTGG 26  5768  5783 165 859403 N/A N/A CTGGTTTTCCCAGCTC 73  5899  5914 166 859407 N/A N/A ACCTCTGGTTTTCCCA 77  5903  5918 167 859411 N/A N/A TTCCACCTCTGGTTTT 23  5907  5922 168 859415 N/A N/A CTTGTCTGCTCCAACT 22  6717  6732 169 859419 N/A N/A AGCTCTTGTCTGCTCC 81  6721  6736 170 859423 N/A N/A ATTGAGGGAAAAAATC 12  7468  7483 171 859427 N/A N/A CCTGCAAGTCCCTGCT 42 11241 11256 172 859431 N/A N/A GCCACCTGCAAGTCCC 47 11245 11260 173 859435 N/A N/A ATTCTCTCCTCAGGCC 52 11292 11307 174 859439 N/A N/A GACCCACCACATTGCA 48 11381 11396 175 859443 N/A N/A CATGGACCCACCACAT 25 11385 11400 176 859447 N/A N/A GTTGCATGGACCCACC 65 11389 11404 177 859451 N/A N/A AGTAGCCCCCCAACTT  0 11606 11621 178 859455 N/A N/A ACACAGTAGCCCCCCA 42 11610 11625 179 859459 N/A N/A AGTCACACAGTAGCCC 83 11614 11629 180 859463 N/A N/A CACACAGTTTGGGTGT 37 11636 11651 181 859467 N/A N/A ATATGCAAGGTCACAC 49 11647 11662 182 859471 N/A N/A AGACATATGCAAGGTC 46 11651 11666 183 859475 N/A N/A TGTCCCTCTTGGTCTC 61 11948 11963 184 859479 N/A N/A CCAGTGTCCCTCTTGG 35 11952 11967 185 859483 N/A N/A TCTGCCAGTGTCCCTC 27 11956 11971 186 859487 N/A N/A TGTGATCCTCTGCCAG 42 11964 11979 187 859491 N/A N/A TCTCTGTGATCCTCTG 73 11968 11983 188 859495 N/A N/A TCTAGGGCCCATGCTT 21 12668 12683 189 859499 N/A N/A CCAGCTCTAGGGCCCA 53 12673 12688 190 859503 N/A N/A GGCAGCCAGCTCTAGG 42 12678 12693 191 859507 N/A N/A CGCACAGTGGGTGCTC 41 12930 12945 192 859511 N/A N/A GGTTAATAATGCCCCC 58 13180 13195 193 859515 N/A N/A GCCTGGTTAATAATGC  0 13184 13199 194 859519 N/A N/A CTGAGTGTGTTAGGAG 52 14471 14486 195 859523 N/A N/A CTCTCTGAGTGTGTTA 57 14475 14490 196 859527 N/A N/A TGCTGAGCAGGTCCTT 47 14538 14553 197 859531 N/A N/A TAGCATGCTGAGCAGG 79 14543 14558 198 859535 N/A N/A TTCTGTAGCATGCTGA 50 14548 14563 199 859539 N/A N/A CAATTCAGTGGCTGCT 62 14757 14772 200 859543 N/A N/A ACAGAGCAATTCAGTG 49 14763 14778 201 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 29 16705 16720  48 859547 N/A N/A ACTATTTAGCAGCTAC 65 17444 17459 202 859551 N/A N/A GTCAACTATTTAGCAG 73 17448 17463 203 859555 N/A N/A CTAGGTTACCGCTGTC 60 20916 20931 204 859559 N/A N/A GGGACCTAGGTTACCG 31 20921 20936 205 859312 1495 1510 CTCTGTGACACAAAGC 69 21467 21482 206 859316 1501 1516 GTCCCACTCTGTGACA 66 21473 21488 207 859563 N/A N/A GCACTGTCCTGCAGCC 44 22878 22893 208 859567 N/A N/A ATCCAGCACTGTCCTG 47 22883 22898 209 859571 N/A N/A CTTTTTTGCTGGTTTG 77 23032 23047 210 859575 N/A N/A TCCACTTTTTTGCTGG  0 23036 23051 211 859579 N/A N/A TGTGCACTATCCTGTA 39 23066 23081 212 859583 N/A N/A GCATCTGTGCACTATC 73 23071 23086 213 859587 N/A N/A AGATGGCATCTGTGCA 65 23076 23091 214 859591 N/A N/A GCCTCTCACACGAGCA 57 23179 23194 215 859595 N/A N/A ACTCTGCCTCTCACAC 27 23184 23199 216 859599 N/A N/A TTTTCGACACAGGGTA 69 24223 24238 217 859603 N/A N/A CATGTTTTCGACACAG 69 24227 24242 218 859607 N/A N/A CTTTTCAGTACTCTAT 28 26513 26528 219 859611 N/A N/A CGCATCTTTTCAGTAC 70 26518 26533 220 859615 N/A N/A TCCATCGCATCTTTTC 51 26523 26538 221 859320 2425 2440 CACTGGAGCTCCTGGG 45 27568 27583 222 859323 2431 2446 GGCTGTCACTGGAGCT 33 27574 27589 223 859327 2498 2513 CAAGTCGGAACCATTT 52 27641 27656 224 859331 2503 2518 AGGGACAAGTCGGAAC 28 27646 27661 225 859335 3459 3474 CTCCGCCAGGCCAGTG 25 28602 28617 226 859339 3463 3478 GCATCTCCGCCAGGCC 56 28606 28621 227 859343 3467 3482 AGAAGCATCTCCGCCA 63 28610 28625 228 859347 3474 3489 ATGCCTTAGAAGCATC  8 28617 28632 229 859351 3478 3493 GACCATGCCTTAGAAG 30 28621 28636 230 859355 3541 3556 AAATGTCTGCTTGCTT 51 28684 28699 231 859359 3589 3604 AGAAAAGTTGGCTGTA 37 28732 28747 232 859363 3595 3610 AGGTCTAGAAAAGTTG 74 28738 28753 233 859367 3604 3619 AAGCAAAACAGGTCTA 37 28747 28762 234 859371 3633 3648 AACCCAGAATAAATAT 30 28776 28791 235

TABLE 4 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ ID NO: 1 SEQ ID NO: 1 % SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ISIS NO Start Site Stop Site Sequence inhibition Start Site Stop Site ID NO 431131 1015 1034 GTCACACTTGCTGGCCTGTC  0 N/A N/A 3 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 25 16705 16720 48 859313 1497 1512 CACTCTGTGACACAAA 59 21469 21484 236 859317 1502 1517 TGTCCCACTCTGTGAC 10 21474 21489 237 859321 2428 2443 TGTCACTGGAGCTCCT 17 27571 27586 238 859324 2432 2447 GGGCTGTCACTGGAGC 46 27575 27590 239 859328 2499 2514 ACAAGTCGGAACCATT 60 27642 27657 240 859332 2504 2519 GAGGGACAAGTCGGAA  1 27647 27662 241 859336 3460 3475 TCTCCGCCAGGCCAGT 20 28603 28618 242 859340 3464 3479 AGCATCTCCGCCAGGC 60 28607 28622 243 859344 3468 3483 TAGAAGCATCTCCGCC 59 28611 28626 244 859348 3475 3490 CATGCCTTAGAAGCAT  0 28618 28633 245 859352 3480 3495 CCGACCATGCCTTAGA 63 28623 28638 246 859356 3542 3557 TAAATGTCTGCTTGCT 67 28685 28700 247 859360 3591 3606 CTAGAAAAGTTGGCTG 59 28734 28749 248 859364 3596 3611 CAGGTCTAGAAAAGTT 44 28739 28754 249 859368 3605 3620 AAAGCAAAACAGGTCT 62 28748 28763 250 859372 N/A N/A TGCCGTCCTTCCCACC 17  4560  4575 251 859376 N/A N/A GCATCTGCCGTCCTTC 40  4565  4580 252 859380 N/A N/A TCCCAGCATCTGCCGT 49  4570  4585 253 859384 N/A N/A GACTTGTCAAGCACCA 83  5014  5029 254 859388 N/A N/A AAGTGACTTGTCAAGC 77  5018  5033 255 859392 N/A N/A CATTGTAAGTTCACTC 77  5137  5152 256 859396 N/A N/A CTTGCATTGTAAGTTC 65  5141  5156 257 859400 N/A N/A TTTCCCAGCTCTGTAT 28  5894  5909 258 859404 N/A N/A TCTGGTTTTCCCAGCT 48  5900  5915 259 859408 N/A N/A CACCTCTGGTTTTCCC 78  5904  5919 260 859412 N/A N/A CTTCCACCTCTGGTTT 28  5908  5923 261 859416 N/A N/A TCTTGTCTGCTCCAAC 13  6718  6733 262 859420 N/A N/A TAGCTCTTGTCTGCTC 39  6722  6737 263 859424 N/A N/A ACCCTAGGTGTACTTT 27  7779  7794 264 859428 N/A N/A ACCTGCAAGTCCCTGC 31 11242 11257 265 859432 N/A N/A TGCCACCTGCAAGTCC 44 11246 11261 266 859436 N/A N/A CATTCTCTCCTCAGGC 38 11293 11308 267 859440 N/A N/A GGACCCACCACATTGC 19 11382 11397 268 859444 N/A N/A GCATGGACCCACCACA 56 11386 11401 269 859448 N/A N/A TGTTGCATGGACCCAC 53 11390 11405 270 859452 N/A N/A CAGTAGCCCCCCAACT 19 11607 11622 271 859456 N/A N/A CACACAGTAGCCCCCC 56 11611 11626 272 859460 N/A N/A AAGTCACACAGTAGCC 32 11615 11630 273 859464 N/A N/A GTCACACAGTTTGGGT 69 11638 11653 274 859468 N/A N/A CATATGCAAGGTCACA 59 11648 11663 275 859472 N/A N/A TCAGACATATGCAAGG 72 11653 11668 276 859476 N/A N/A GTGTCCCTCTTGGTCT 67 11949 11964 277 859480 N/A N/A GCCAGTGTCCCTCTTG 46 11953 11968 278 859484 N/A N/A CCTCTGCCAGTGTCCC 34 11958 11973 279 859488 N/A N/A CTGTGATCCTCTGCCA 58 11965 11980 280 859492 N/A N/A GTCTCTGTGATCCTCT 71 11969 11984 281 859496 N/A N/A GCTCTAGGGCCCATGC 16 12670 12685 282 859500 N/A N/A GCCAGCTCTAGGGCCC 16 12674 12689 283 859504 N/A N/A AGAGAAATGCATGCTA 68 12841 12856 284 859508 N/A N/A GGCGCACAGTGGGTGC  0 12932 12947 285 859512 N/A N/A TGGTTAATAATGCCCC 40 13181 13196 286 859516 N/A N/A TTGCCTGGTTAATAAT 12 13186 13201 287 859520 N/A N/A TCTGAGTGTGTTAGGA 62 14472 14487 288 859524 N/A N/A GCTCTCTGAGTGTGTT 56 14476 14491 289 859528 N/A N/A CATGCTGAGCAGGTCC 66 14540 14555 290 859532 N/A N/A GTAGCATGCTGAGCAG 79 14544 14559 291 859536 N/A N/A TCAGTGGCTGCTCTGA 24 14753 14768 292 859540 N/A N/A GCAATTCAGTGGCTGC 33 14758 14773 293 859544 N/A N/A TAGTTAACACACAGAA 17 16208 16223 294 859548 N/A N/A AACTATTTAGCAGCTA 43 17445 17460 295 859552 N/A N/A CGTCAACTATTTAGCA 66 17449 17464 296 859556 N/A N/A CCTAGGTTACCGCTGT 33 20917 20932 297 859560 N/A N/A GCACAGACCCTGACTG 23 21567 21582 298 859564 N/A N/A AGCACTGTCCTGCAGC 48 22879 22894 299 859568 N/A N/A TTTTGCTGGTTTGAGA 52 23029 23044 300 859572 N/A N/A ACTTTTTTGCTGGTTT 70 23033 23048 301 859576 N/A N/A ATTCCACTTTTTTGCT 24 23038 23053 302 859580 N/A N/A TCTGTGCACTATCCTG 38 23068 23083 303 859584 N/A N/A GGCATCTGTGCACTAT 75 23072 23087 304 859588 N/A N/A TCACACGAGCATTAAG 34 23174 23189 305 859592 N/A N/A TGCCTCTCACACGAGC 38 23180 23195 306 859596 N/A N/A TAGACAGGATCAACTC 18 23406 23421 307 859600 N/A N/A GTTTTCGACACAGGGT 61 24224 24239 308 859604 N/A N/A GCATGTTTTCGACACA 63 24228 24243 309 859608 N/A N/A ATCTTTTCAGTACTCT 48 26515 26530 310 859612 N/A N/A TCGCATCTTTTCAGTA 31 26519 26534 311 859616 N/A N/A AGCAGCTAGGCCACAG 20 26841 26856 312 Study 2

Cultured HepG2 cells at a density of 20,000 cells per well were transfected using electroporation with 3,000 nM antisense oligonucleotide. After a treatment period of approximately 24 hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and PCSK9 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Human PCSK9 primer probe set from ABI (ID# Hs03037355_m1) was used to measure mRNA levels. PCSK9 mRNA levels were adjusted according to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results are presented as percent inhibition of PCSK9, relative to untreated control cells.

TABLE 5 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ ID NO: 1 SEQ ID NO: 1 % SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ISIS NO Start Site Stop Site Sequence inhibition Start Site Stop Site ID NO 848304  757  772 AACTTCAAGGCCAGCT 66 N/A N/A 313 848215  108  123 CTGAACTGAACGGCGG 68  3583  3598 314 848231  320  335 GGCGAGGAGACCTAGA 87  3795  3810 315 848247  485  500 ACGCAAGGCTAGCACC 77  3960  3975 316 848788 N/A N/A GGCAAGCCCGCTTTCT 88  4456  4471 317 848804 N/A N/A CCCTTTTAAAGATTAG 67  5053  5068 318 848820 N/A N/A CCAGAGAAGAAACATC 62  5524  5539 319 848836 N/A N/A AAGAATCTGGAGCTGC 84  6430  6445 320 848852 N/A N/A CACTGAGGACCAAATT 65  6806  6821 321 848868 N/A N/A GCTATATAAAGGAATA 65  7161  7176 322 848884 N/A N/A CATGAGCAAGTCACTC 65  7387  7402 323 848900 N/A N/A AGTATAGTAGATGATA 82  7720  7735 324 848262  614  629 CGAGAGGTGGGTCTCC 54  7887  7902 325 466848  673  688 GTGAGGTATCCCCGGC 88  7946  7961 326 848289  689  704 GACATGCAGGATCTTG 79  7962  7977 327 848916 N/A N/A GGGAATTCTATACAGA 72  8193  8208 328 848932 N/A N/A CACCGAAGATGTGACA 51  8521  8536 329 848948 N/A N/A AAGGGAAAGGCCTGAG 53  9040  9055 330 848964 N/A N/A CCCCACAGGCAGCCTC 61  9610  9625 331 848980 N/A N/A CCGGAGGACAGACTAG 27 10368 10383 332 848319 862 877 TGGTATTCATCCGCCC 60 10623 10638 333 848996 N/A N/A AGCCAAACGGAGCTGG 51 11093 11108 334 849012 N/A N/A AAAGGAACAGGCTCTT 56 11842 11857 335 849028 N/A N/A CTCTAGGGCCCATGCT 56 12669 12684 336 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 96 13108 13123 337 849060 N/A N/A GATGATGTGACCACTG 86 13864 13879 338 849076 N/A N/A GGCCAGCAAGGTGGGC 35 14277 14292 339 849092 N/A N/A TGCTAGTAGGTCTGGG 72 14675 14690 340 849108 N/A N/A CCAAAGGAAGACTTCA 70 15400 15415 341 849124 N/A N/A ATTTAAAGACTCAAAG 16 15870 15885 342 849140 N/A N/A ACATTTGTGGGAGAGG 56 16250 16265 343 848334  984  999 CGTCCTCCTCGGGCAC 85 16376 16391 344 848348 1018 1033 TCACACTTGCTGGCCT 52 16648 16663 345 848364 1061 1076 ATCCCGGCCGCTGACC 57 16691 16706 346 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 48 16705 16720  48 848379 1085 1100 GCTGGCACCCTTGGCC 57 16715 16730 347 849156 N/A N/A AAGACATAAAGACATC 89 17083 17098 348 849172 N/A N/A CAGAAGGTTATTGATT 68 17735 17750 349 849188 N/A N/A TGCTAGTTATTAAGCA 15 18080 18095 350 849204 N/A N/A CAGTAACAGCTCTTTT 80 19020 19035 351 849220 N/A N/A CCTTATTATCCCTTTC 70 19396 19411 352 849236 N/A N/A CAACATCAAATTCTGC 92 19658 19673 353 848395 1165 1180 TTCCGAATAAACTCCA 73 19996 20011 354 848411 1345 1360 ACCTCGGGAGCTGAGG 20 20176 20191 355 849252 N/A N/A GATGGAGGTTTCGAGC 87 20381 20396 356 849268 N/A N/A TATCAAGTGGTTCTAA 44 21039 21054 357 848427 1458 1473 CACCAATGATGTCCTC 45 21430 21445 358 849284 N/A N/A TCTTATCGGCCAGGTG 75 21810 21825 359 848443 1608 1623 TGGCAGAGAAGTGGAT 21 22101 22116 360 848459 1730 1745 CCATACAGTCCTGCAA 40 22512 22527 361 848475 1807 1822 GAGCAGCTCAGCAGCT 44 22589 22604 362 849300 N/A N/A TACAGAAGAGCTGGAG 61 22767 22782 363 849316 N/A N/A ACACAGAGTGGTTTCA 79 23262 23277 364 848489 1951 1966 CTGCAGTTGGCCTGGG 57 23571 23586 365 848505 2006 2021 GTGGCAGTGGACACGG 71 23626 23641 366 849332 N/A N/A AGGAGAAGTAAGGTCA 91 23828 23843 367 849348 N/A N/A GGGCATGTTTTCGACA 65 24230 24245 368 849364 N/A N/A TTCCACCCAGAGATGG 34 25105 25120 369 849380 N/A N/A CGGTATGGTGGTGGCA 71 25630 25645 370 849396 N/A N/A GGGCAAGTGGATCCAA 38 26364 26379 371 849412 N/A N/A CCACACTTCATTTCTC 35 27298 27313 372 848521 2225 2240 GCAGGCCACGGTCACC 67 27368 27383 373 848537 2483 2498 TTAAAGCTCAGCCCCA 67 27626 27641 374 848553 2560 2575 CCCCGGAAAGGCGGAA 39 27703 27718 375 848569 2704 2719 CCGAGCACAGCTCGAC 62 27847 27862 376 848584 2739 2754 ACGGACATCGGCACAT 92 27882 27897 377 848600 2776 2791 GGCACGGAACAAGAGC 87 27919 27934 378 848616 2888 2903 ACCTTTCACACTCACC 92 28031 28046 379 468491 2971 2986 TGCCATCCAGAAAGCT 64 28114 28129 380 848646 3085 3100 CACCTTTGGGTGTTGC 80 28228 28243 381 848662 3132 3147 CCACTGCACACTGCCG 87 28275 28290 382 848678 3220 3235 TGGTTCCAGGTTTCTT 87 28363 28378 383 848693 3253 3268 CCTGCTGTGTGAGCTT 93 28396 28411 384 848709 3290 3305 CTTCAGAGCCAGCCCA 65 28433 28448 385 848725 3380 3395 CCGAGCTTCCTGGTCT 92 28523 28538 386 848741 3433 3448 GGGTGATAACGGAAAA 62 28576 28591 387 848756 3547 3562 AAAGATAAATGTCTGC 92 28690 28705 388 848772 3631 3646 CCCAGAATAAATATCT 89 28774 28789 389

TABLE 6 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ PCSK9 SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 (% ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition) Site Site ID NO 848216 123 138 CTCCAGGCTCAGACCC 82 3598 3613 390 848232 353 368 GCCCATGAGGGCCAGG 67 3828 3843 391 848248 486 501 AACGCAAGGCTAGCAC 62 3961 3976 392 848789 N/A N/A CTATAATGGCAAGCCC 76 4463 4478 393 848805 N/A N/A CGTAGGGACGATTGTC 65 5073 5088 394 848821 N/A N/A ATGAACTTGAGGAGGC 85 5558 5573 395 848837 N/A N/A TTGGAAGAATCTGGAG 81 6434 6449 396 848853 N/A N/A CAACACTGAGGACCAA 77 6809 6824 397 848869 N/A N/A GGCAACACTTCTTAAA 60 7219 7234 398 848885 N/A N/A GTGCAGCCATGAGCAA 73 7394 7409 399 848901 N/A N/A ACAGAGTATAGTAGAT 73 7724 7739 400 848263 616 631 TGCGAGAGGTGGGTCT 42 7889 7904 401 848275 674 689 GGTGAGGTATCCCCGG 67 7947 7962 402 848290 690 705 AGACATGCAGGATCTT 56 7963 7978 403 848917 N/A N/A TCAAATGAAGATAGAC 68 8237 8252 404 848933 N/A N/A GAATACCCAGTCCCCT 49 8548 8563 405 848949 N/A N/A CTCAAGGGAAAGGCCT 59 9043 9058 406 848965 N/A N/A CATGGCAGCGGTGAAC 47 9638 9653 407 848981 N/A N/A GATCAAACCTGTCCCC 42 10427 10442 408 848997 N/A N/A TGCAGACCGTTTTCCA 83 11221 11236 409 849013 N/A N/A GGAAAGGAACAGGCTC 88 11844 11859 410 849029 N/A N/A TTTGAGGGCGGCAGCC 32 12687 12702 411 849045 N/A N/A TGCTGGATACACAGGC 79 13112 13127 412 849061 N/A N/A TGTACCTGGGTTCTGC 86 13885 13900 413 849077 N/A N/A CACTAGATATTGAGCT 55 14329 14344 414 849093 N/A N/A CTATGCTAGTAGGTCT 51 14678 14693 415 849109 N/A N/A GGCCAAAGGAAGACTT 22 15402 15417 416 849125 N/A N/A CTGCAAGAAAGACAAC 73 15889 15904 417 848320 887 902 CACCAGGCTGCCTCCG 49 16279 16294 418 848335 985 1000 CCGTCCTCCTCGGGCA 81 16377 16392 419 849141 N/A N/A CATCAGACGGCCGTGC 40 16416 16431 420 848349 1019 1034 GTCACACTTGCTGGCC 62 16649 16664 421 468459 1063 1078 GCATCCCGGCCGCTGA 76 16693 16708 422 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 46 16705 16720 48 848380 1091 1106 GCGCATGCTGGCACCC 45 16721 16736 423 849157 N/A N/A GATAACATAACAAAAG 29 17096 17111 424 849173 N/A N/A GCAGAAGGTTATTGAT 64 17736 17751 425 849189 N/A N/A ACAGCTGCTAGTTATT 96 18085 18100 426 18398 18413 849205 N/A N/A TGCTACTGTCAACAGT 86 19032 19047 427 849221 N/A N/A CAATAACCTTATTATC 6 19402 19417 428 849237 N/A N/A AGAGAACAGACTGAGG 83 19727 19742 429 848396 1170 1185 GGCTTTTCCGAATAAA 43 20001 20016 430 849253 N/A N/A GGCAGAGGACGCAGGG 40 20538 20553 431 849269 N/A N/A ACTATTCGGTGTATCA 82 21050 21065 432 848428 1466 1481 GCTGGAGGCACCAATG 0 21438 21453 433 849285 N/A N/A GTCTTATCGGCCAGGT 86 21811 21826 434 848444 1617 1632 TGACATCTTTGGCAGA 39 22110 22125 435 848460 1731 1746 ACCATACAGTCCTGCA 19 22513 22528 436 848476 1814 1829 GAAACTGGAGCAGCTC 54 22596 22611 437 849301 N/A N/A CATTGAAAATCCATCC 83 22895 22910 438 849317 N/A N/A CCCAAGGAAGACTGTT 56 23318 23333 439 848490 1977 1992 CCTCAGCTGGTGGAGC 54 23597 23612 440 848506 2007 2022 GGTGGCAGTGGACACG 46 23627 23642 441 849333 N/A N/A AGGTAATACCTTTTTC 51 23871 23886 442 849349 N/A N/A CACCATCCCTTGATGC 46 24285 24300 443 849365 N/A N/A GAAAACACCATCTTTC 26 25118 25133 444 849381 N/A N/A GGCGGTATGGTGGTGG 71 25632 25647 445 849397 N/A N/A ACCCAGGGCAAGTGGA 56 26369 26384 446 849413 N/A N/A CCCCACCCACACTTCA 53 27304 27319 447 848522 2227 2242 TCGCAGGCCACGGTCA 69 27370 27385 448 848538 2485 2500 TTTTAAAGCTCAGCCC 38 27628 27643 449 848554 2565 2580 AGCAGCCCCGGAAAGG 67 27708 27723 450 848570 2706 2721 ACCCGAGCACAGCTCG 90 27849 27864 451 848585 2741 2756 CCACGGACATCGGCAC 93 27884 27899 452 848601 2777 2792 TGGCACGGAACAAGAG 54 27920 27935 453 848617 2898 2913 GGCCATCAGCACCTTT 63 28041 28056 454 848632 2976 2991 CTAGATGCCATCCAGA 91 28119 28134 455 848647 3088 3103 GGCCACCTTTGGGTGT 46 28231 28246 456 848663 3141 3156 GTGCATGCACCACTGC 78 28284 28299 457 848679 3221 3236 CTGGTTCCAGGTTTCT 88 28364 28379 458 848694 3254 3269 TCCTGCTGTGTGAGCT 91 28397 28412 459 848710 3302 3317 GAAGAGGCTTGGCTTC 17 28445 28460 460 848726 3381 3396 ACCGAGCTTCCTGGTC 38 28524 28539 461 848742 3438 3453 GGCCTGGGTGATAACG 26 28581 28596 462 848757 3550 3565 CCAAAAGATAAATGTC 46 28693 28708 463 848773 3638 3653 TACAAAACCCAGAATA 59 28781 28796 464 848305 758 773 CAACTTCAAGGCCAGC 79 N/A N/A 465 848412 1349 1364 GATGACCTCGGGAGCT 38 N/A N/A 466 Study 3

Cultured HepG2 cells at a density of 20,000 cells per well were transfected using electroporation with 1,000 nM antisense oligonucleotide. After a treatment period of approximately 24 hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and PCSK9 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Human PCSK9 primer probe set from ABI (ID# Hs03037355_m1) was used to measure mRNA levels. PCSK9 mRNA levels were adjusted according to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results are presented as percent inhibition of PCSK9, relative to untreated control cells.

TABLE 7 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848205 4 19 CACCAGAGCCCCATCG 3 3479 3494 467 848221 189 204 CTGGGAGCCGCTGCTG 42 3664 3679 468 848237 389 404 TGGCAGCGGCCACCAG 0 3864 3879 469 848253 506 521 GGCCAGGCCGTCCTCC 51 3981 3996 470 848778 N/A N/A CCGCACCTTGGCGCAG 0 4035 4050 471 848794 N/A N/A GAAACAGATGGAATAC 28 4626 4641 472 848810 N/A N/A ACCCAGCACACTCAGA 0 5291 5306 473 848826 N/A N/A GTACTCTGTGCAGTGG 80 5748 5763 474 848842 N/A N/A GAGTAGAACAGAGTCC 54 6544 6559 475 848858 N/A N/A TTAATAATCAGCCTTC 46 6933 6948 476 848874 N/A N/A TACAAATGCAGGCAGA 40 7256 7271 477 848890 N/A N/A CTCGACAACAGGTTTT 65 7577 7592 478 848906 N/A N/A AGGAACATGATGACAT 0 7811 7826 479 848268 644 659 CTGCAGGCGGCGGGCA 0 7917 7932 480 848279 679 694 ATCTTGGTGAGGTATC 40 7952 7967 481 848294 695 710 ATGGAAGACATGCAGG 44 7968 7983 482 848922 N/A N/A TAAAATGACTCAGGCT 19 8406 8421 483 848938 N/A N/A CATCAAGTTAGAGGCC 49 8650 8665 484 848954 N/A N/A TATACGGGTACCTTCT 28 9143 9158 485 848970 N/A N/A GCTCAGTGCAAACTGC 0 10094 10109 486 848309 779 794 CTCGATGTAGTCGACA 62 10540 10555 487 848986 N/A N/A CCCGAGAAGTGGAAAC 12 10729 10744 488 849002 N/A N/A CCAAGATCCCACGAGA 56 11458 11473 489 849018 N/A N/A GAGAAAGTGGTCCTGC 35 12122 12137 490 849034 N/A N/A CAGCAATAACTGATTT 42 12825 12840 491 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 83 13108 13123 337 849050 N/A N/A CGCCTGAGAAGCTCAG 44 13353 13368 492 849066 N/A N/A CCACACAACGCACATC 15 14043 14058 493 849082 N/A N/A GACCAAACAGTGCTCG 28 14360 14375 494 849098 N/A N/A CTACAAAGACCTTTTC 0 14849 14864 495 849114 N/A N/A TAGGAGAAAGTAGGGA 26 15533 15548 496 849130 N/A N/A GAATATCAATATCTAA 19 15983 15998 497 848325 931 946 TCCCGGTGGTCACTCT 2 16323 16338 498 848340 990 1005 GGGTCCCGTCCTCCTC 38 16382 16397 499 849146 N/A N/A CCACATGAGAAAGACC 0 16614 16629 500 848354 1026 1041 CATGACTGTCACACTT 23 16656 16671 501 848369 1074 1089 TGGCCACGCCGGCATC 17 16704 16719 502 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 4 16705 16720 48 848385 1114 1129 TGGCAGTTGAGCACGC 0 16744 16759 503 849162 N/A N/A GTCTAGAAAAAGTCCT 65 17257 17272 504 849178 N/A N/A CCGTGCCAGGTCATGC 78 17957 17972 505 849194 N/A N/A CTGGGATACAGACACC 42 18254 18269 506 849210 N/A N/A AATTAAAAGACTCCAT 18 19154 19169 507 849226 N/A N/A TATTAGCAATTACACC 45 19502 19517 508 849242 N/A N/A TTACAGGCACAGAGTG 25 19914 19929 509 848401 1228 1243 CTGTACCCACCCGCCA 11 20059 20074 510 849258 N/A N/A AACAAGATTCCTTCCC 30 20814 20829 511 849274 N/A N/A GGCAGAACTCTGGCAC 56 21163 21178 512 848417 1402 1417 CCCAAAGTCCCCAGGG 0 21374 21389 513 849290 N/A N/A GGTGAAAGATGGTGAT 10 22003 22018 514 848433 1544 1559 CATCATGGCTGCAATG 0 22037 22052 515 848449 1636 1651 GGGAACCAGGCCTCAT 25 22129 22144 516 848465 1736 1751 TGCTGACCATACAGTC 0 22518 22533 517 849306 N/A N/A GTGCACTATCCTGTAG 28 23065 23080 518 849322 N/A N/A CAAAGACGGAAATGGG 44 23462 23477 519 848481 1925 1940 GCACCTGGCAATGGCG 34 23545 23560 520 848495 1993 2008 CGGGTCCCCATGCTGG 0 23613 23628 521 849338 N/A N/A TGCTTAGCACTCATCA 0 24102 24117 522 849354 N/A N/A CCTACATGCCAGCCTG 73 24472 24487 523 849370 N/A N/A AAAGAGATGCTGGCCT 28 25228 25243 524 848511 2082 2097 GCACAGGCGGCTTGTG 28 25413 25428 525 849386 N/A N/A CCATATTTATGCACAT 62 25806 25821 526 849402 N/A N/A TTTCAGTACTCTATAT 12 26511 26526 527 848527 2372 2387 AACGGCTGTCACGGCC 42 27515 27530 528 848543 2507 2522 AGAGAGGGACAAGTCG 47 27650 27665 529 848559 2603 2618 TTCCAGGCAAGGAGGC 23 27746 27761 530 848575 2712 2727 GGCAGCACCCGAGCAC 72 27855 27870 531 848590 2757 2772 ATAAAAGTCATTCTGC 15 27900 27915 532 848606 2787 2802 ATTGAATGCCTGGCAC 36 27930 27945 533 848622 2919 2934 CCACAGTTAGCTGGAG 45 28062 28077 534 848637 3036 3051 GCTCAGGAAACCAAGG 12 28179 28194 535 848652 3122 3137 CTGCCGAGTCAGTCCT 66 28265 28280 536 848668 3172 3187 TGCCGGGTAGTGGAGC 49 28315 28330 537 848683 3226 3241 CCCCTCTGGTTCCAGG 43 28369 28384 538 848699 3261 3276 GCTCAGTTCCTGCTGT 18 28404 28419 539 848715 3317 3332 AGCCGGGTGAAGTAAG 26 28460 28475 540 848731 3386 3401 CACTCACCGAGCTTCC 73 28529 28544 541 848747 3471 3486 CCTTAGAAGCATCTCC 52 28614 28629 542 848762 3576 3591 GTAAAAAGGCAACAGA 36 28719 28734 543

TABLE 8 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848206 7 22 CGCCACCAGAGCCCCA 30 3482 3497 544 848222 207 222 CGGAATCCTGGCTGGG 55 3682 3697 545 848238 476 491 TAGCACCAGCTCCTCG 53 3951 3966 546 848254 520 535 TGCTCGGGTGCTTCGG 35 3995 4010 547 848779 N/A N/A GGCTGCGGGTTCGCCC 13 4070 4085 548 848795 N/A N/A CGAGAATACCTCCGCC 73 4682 4697 549 848811 N/A N/A GCTGAGTAAGGACTTG 64 5317 5332 550 848827 N/A N/A TTCCGCTAAATAAAAA 9 5781 5796 551 848843 N/A N/A TCAGAGTAGAACAGAG 51 6547 6562 552 848859 N/A N/A GAGGGAGGTGCCAAGC 31 6954 6969 553 848875 N/A N/A CTACAAATGCAGGCAG 63 7257 7272 554 848891 N/A N/A AACTACGGGCCACACT 7 7591 7606 555 848907 N/A N/A ACGGATCCTGGCCCCA 45 7834 7849 556 848269 663 678 CCCGGCGGGCAGCCTG 18 7936 7951 557 848280 680 695 GATCTTGGTGAGGTAT 1 7953 7968 558 848295 699 714 GGCCATGGAAGACATG 18 7972 7987 559 848923 N/A N/A CTAGAGTCATGCTTTT 0 8425 8440 560 848939 N/A N/A GTGGAGAATCAGTGTG 40 8683 8698 561 848955 N/A N/A TTGAAGTCCAGCTCTC 16 9258 9273 562 848971 N/A N/A GCAATTCGGTTTGTCC 65 10140 10155 563 848310 795 810 AGACAGAGGAGTCCTC 31 10556 10571 564 848987 N/A N/A GATCATTTAAGGCAAG 26 10850 10865 565 849003 N/A N/A TCCCAAGATCCCACGA 5 11460 11475 566 849019 N/A N/A CAAGAGAAGCTTCTCC 20 12152 12167 567 849035 N/A N/A CTACAGCAATAACTGA 46 12828 12843 568 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 78 13108 13123 337 849051 N/A N/A GAGCAGGGAGCTCATT 0 13395 13410 569 849067 N/A N/A CTAGAAGACAGCACAG 15 14085 14100 570 849083 N/A N/A CCGACCTGAAGACATC 41 14380 14395 571 849099 N/A N/A GCCCACCGCATAATCC 18 14897 14912 572 849115 N/A N/A GACAAAGGTTAGGGTA 46 15549 15564 573 849131 N/A N/A TGAATATCAATATCTA 30 15984 15999 574 848326 939 954 CCTCGATTTCCCGGTG 30 16331 16346 575 848341 992 1007 GCGGGTCCCGTCCTCC 0 16384 16399 576 849147 N/A N/A GACCACATGAGAAAGA 0 16616 16631 577 848355 1029 1044 TGCCATGACTGTCACA 35 16659 16674 578 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 19 16705 16720 48 848370 1076 1091 CTTGGCCACGCCGGCA 0 16706 16721 579 848386 1133 1148 GCTAACCGTGCCCTTC 20 16763 16778 580 849163 N/A N/A CAGTAAGGGAGAGAAC 3 17363 17378 581 849179 N/A N/A CCCGTGCCAGGTCATG 38 17958 17973 582 849195 N/A N/A AGCTGCTAGTTATTTA 44 18396 18411 583 849211 N/A N/A GAAACAGGGACAGTTG 25 19189 19204 584 849227 N/A N/A GGAAGATATTAGCAAT 78 19508 19523 585 849243 N/A N/A CTTACAGGCACAGAGT 27 19915 19930 586 848402 1238 1253 GAGGACGCGGCTGTAC 25 20069 20084 587 849259 N/A N/A GTGGAACAAGATTCCT 40 20818 20833 588 849275 N/A N/A AGGCAGAACTCTGGCA 56 21164 21179 589 848418 1414 1429 CCAAAGTTGGTCCCCA 0 21386 21401 590 848434 1546 1561 AGCATCATGGCTGCAA 49 22039 22054 591 848450 1641 1656 CCTCAGGGAACCAGGC 28 22134 22149 592 849291 N/A N/A TGCCATCCTGCTTACC 30 22209 22224 593 848466 1738 1753 TGTGCTGACCATACAG 20 22520 22535 594 849307 N/A N/A CACCAAAATGCTGCAA 39 23094 23109 595 849323 N/A N/A GGCCTTAGAGTCAAAG 0 23473 23488 596 468479 1926 1941 AGCACCTGGCAATGGC 47 23546 23561 597 848496 1997 2012 GACACGGGTCCCCATG 28 23617 23632 598 849339 N/A N/A ACTAAGCTAAGTGCTT 7 24113 24128 599 849355 N/A N/A GCAAAATGGTGCTCTT 52 24690 24705 600 849371 N/A N/A ACCTAGAAACAACTCA 23 25251 25266 601 848512 2084 2099 CAGCACAGGCGGCTTG 14 25415 25430 602 849387 N/A N/A ATGCATATTGCATTTC 44 25828 25843 603 849403 N/A N/A GGCCAGACCACACTCC 13 26808 26823 604 848528 2375 2390 GGCAACGGCTGTCACG 52 27518 27533 605 848544 2509 2524 TGAGAGAGGGACAAGT 27 27652 27667 606 848560 2613 2628 AGTGAGTGAGTTCCAG 65 27756 27771 607 848576 2713 2728 TGGCAGCACCCGAGCA 56 27856 27871 608 848591 2761 2776 CTCAATAAAAGTCATT 45 27904 27919 609 848607 2791 2806 GAGGATTGAATGCCTG 37 27934 27949 610 848623 2921 2936 CTCCACAGTTAGCTGG 35 28064 28079 611 848638 3045 3060 GTAAAGGTGGCTCAGG 46 28188 28203 612 848653 3123 3138 ACTGCCGAGTCAGTCC 29 28266 28281 613 848669 3180 3195 GTGTACCCTGCCGGGT 3 28323 28338 614 848684 3227 3242 CCCCCTCTGGTTCCAG 54 28370 28385 615 848700 3263 3278 TGGCTCAGTTCCTGCT 36 28406 28421 616 848716 3321 3336 GCCCAGCCGGGTGAAG 26 28464 28479 617 848732 3388 3403 ATCACTCACCGAGCTT 69 28531 28546 618 848748 3473 3488 TGCCTTAGAAGCATCT 68 28616 28631 619 848763 3578 3593 CTGTAAAAAGGCAACA 52 28721 28736 620

TABLE 9 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848207 12 27 GATCACGCCACCAGAG 0 3487 3502 621 848223 209 224 CGCGGAATCCTGGCTG 1 3684 3699 622 848239 477 492 CTAGCACCAGCTCCTC 38 3952 3967 623 848255 533 548 GGCTGTGGTTCCGTGC 29 4008 4023 624 848780 N/A N/A AAACAGCACCGCACCG 0 4090 4105 625 848796 N/A N/A CCGCACACGGTCGGCA 35 4821 4836 626 848812 N/A N/A GAACAAGGAAGAGGGC 39 5341 5356 627 848828 N/A N/A CAAAGACCCATCTGAA 32 5803 5818 628 848844 N/A N/A TCATGAATCAAGTCCA 71 6650 6665 629 848860 N/A N/A GCAGAGATCAATCACA 36 6997 7012 630 848876 N/A N/A TCCCATCCAGATGCTC 34 7272 7287 631 848892 N/A N/A ATTCAGGCAAAAATGG 12 7608 7623 632 848270 665 680 TCCCCGGCGGGCAGCC 24 7938 7953 633 848281 681 696 GGATCTTGGTGAGGTA 23 7954 7969 634 848296 704 719 AAGAAGGCCATGGAAG 38 7977 7992 635 848908 N/A N/A TGCCATTCCCAAAAAG 0 8045 8060 636 848924 N/A N/A CAAAGGAATTTTGGAC 0 8442 8457 637 848940 N/A N/A TGCCATGTGGAGAATC 24 8689 8704 638 848956 N/A N/A TCGAACCCAGGCTGGT 0 9286 9301 639 848972 N/A N/A CATGACATAACAGCAC 24 10158 10173 640 848311 797 812 AAAGACAGAGGAGTCC 28 10558 10573 641 848988 N/A N/A AAAGAGGATCATTTAA 0 10856 10871 642 849004 N/A N/A CAAGAACGACAAAGCT 48 11493 11508 643 849020 N/A N/A GGACACGGAAGAGGCA 63 12166 12181 644 849036 N/A N/A ACAGAGAAATGCATGC 66 12843 12858 645 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 81 13108 13123 337 849052 N/A N/A CTCTATCTTCCAAACC 22 13578 13593 646 849068 N/A N/A ATACAGGCTTATCTAG 3 14097 14112 647 849084 N/A N/A CAATAGGCATCTACCA 59 14444 14459 648 849100 N/A N/A AGGACTTACAGCCCAC 12 14907 14922 649 849116 N/A N/A GCCCATGCAGGACAAA 11 15559 15574 650 849132 N/A N/A TATGAATATCAATATC 0 15986 16001 651 468453 950 965 CATGACCCTGCCCTCG 45 16342 16357 652 848342 995 1010 GAAGCGGGTCCCGTCC 17 16387 16402 653 849148 N/A N/A ACACAAGGACCACATG 0 16623 16638 654 848356 1040 1055 TGCCAGGTGGGTGCCA 26 16670 16685 655 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 0 16705 16720 48 848371 1077 1092 CCTTGGCCACGCCGGC 37 16707 16722 656 848387 1135 1150 CCGCTAACCGTGCCCT 17 16765 16780 657 849164 N/A N/A CTTGAGCTGTGCGACC 27 17497 17512 658 849180 N/A N/A CCCCGTGCCAGGTCAT 26 17959 17974 659 849196 N/A N/A ACAACAGCCACATTTA 56 18413 18428 660 849212 N/A N/A TGTGAAACAGGGACAG 17 19192 19207 661 849228 N/A N/A TAATATATACATCCTA 0 19564 19579 662 849244 N/A N/A CCTTACAGGCACAGAG 16 19916 19931 663 848403 1241 1256 GTTGAGGACGCGGCTG 19 20072 20087 664 849260 N/A N/A CCAACGCGCGCGCGCG 4 20870 20885 665 849276 N/A N/A GAAAATCTGACTGCCC 43 21180 21195 666 848419 1416 1431 GGCCAAAGTTGGTCCC 0 21388 21403 667 848435 1550 1565 AGACAGCATCATGGCT 43 22043 22058 668 848451 1656 1671 TCAGTACCCGCTGGTC 41 22149 22164 669 849292 N/A N/A GGTCACACAGACCTCC 24 22252 22267 670 848467 1744 1759 CCCGAGTGTGCTGACC 39 22526 22541 671 849308 N/A N/A TTCCACCAAAATGCTG 7 23097 23112 672 848482 1927 1942 CAGCACCTGGCAATGG 10 23547 23562 673 848497 1998 2013 GGACACGGGTCCCCAT 32 23618 23633 674 849324 N/A N/A GGCAAGCCCAGCCTCC 0 23667 23682 675 849340 N/A N/A AACGATAGCTAGAATT 12 24143 24158 676 849356 N/A N/A TGGTAGGGTTGTGGTT 0 24782 24797 677 849372 N/A N/A GCAAGAGCTAGGAAAC 60 25265 25280 678 848513 2086 2101 CTCAGCACAGGCGGCT 41 25417 25432 679 849388 N/A N/A ATGCATGCATATTGCA 0 25832 25847 680 849404 N/A N/A CTTCAGACTCCAGCCT 0 26944 26959 681 848529 2378 2393 GATGGCAACGGCTGTC 0 27521 27536 682 848545 2511 2526 GCTGAGAGAGGGACAA 54 27654 27669 683 848561 2617 2632 CCAGAGTGAGTGAGTT 30 27760 27775 684 848577 2714 2729 CTGGCAGCACCCGAGC 52 27857 27872 685 848592 2762 2777 GCTCAATAAAAGTCAT 44 27905 27920 686 848608 2795 2810 ACCTGAGGATTGAATG 16 27938 27953 687 848624 2944 2959 AATCAGGGAGCCCCCA 0 28087 28102 688 848639 3047 3062 GAGTAAAGGTGGCTCA 19 28190 28205 689 848654 3124 3139 CACTGCCGAGTCAGTC 51 28267 28282 690 848670 3186 3201 GCGAATGTGTACCCTG 81 28329 28344 691 848685 3229 3244 CGCCCCCTCTGGTTCC 57 28372 28387 692 848701 3264 3279 CTGGCTCAGTTCCTGC 69 28407 28422 693 848717 3330 3345 AAATGAGGAGCCCAGC 42 28473 28488 694 848733 3392 3407 TGCCATCACTCACCGA 48 28535 28550 695 848749 3482 3497 CCCCGACCATGCCTTA 43 28625 28640 696 848764 3580 3595 GGCTGTAAAAAGGCAA 68 28723 28738 697

TABLE 10 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848208 15 30 GCAGATCACGCCACCA 0 3490 3505 698 848224 212 227 GCGCGCGGAATCCTGG 21 3687 3702 699 848240 478 493 GCTAGCACCAGCTCCT 37 3953 3968 700 468441 541 556 TGGAAGGTGGCTGTGG 0 4016 4031 701 848781 N/A N/A CCGAGAGGAAACAGCA 52 4098 4113 702 848797 N/A N/A AGCAAACTCGCCCCGC 55 4833 4848 703 848813 N/A N/A GGCTCAGGGAACAAGG 39 5349 5364 704 848829 N/A N/A CACCATCATCGCTGAA 39 5834 5849 705 848845 N/A N/A GCAGACATACCTGCTT 24 6693 6708 706 848861 N/A N/A CTACATGTGCAGAGAT 52 7005 7020 707 848877 N/A N/A ATAAATCTCCCATCCA 36 7279 7294 708 848893 N/A N/A TTTCAAATGTGCCATT 22 7621 7636 709 468443 666 681 ATCCCCGGCGGGCAGC 52 7939 7954 710 848282 682 697 AGGATCTTGGTGAGGT 47 7955 7970 711 848297 732 747 CGCCACTCATCTTCAC 23 8005 8020 712 848909 N/A N/A GGCCTACTAAGCACAG 49 8100 8115 713 848925 N/A N/A TTCAAAGGAATTTTGG 0 8444 8459 714 848941 N/A N/A ACCCAGGTCCAGACTC 44 8793 8808 715 848957 N/A N/A GGTTAGACAGCCAATA 48 9318 9333 716 848973 N/A N/A CTAAATCATGACATAA 14 10164 10179 717 848312 799 814 GCAAAGACAGAGGAGT 46 10560 10575 718 848989 N/A N/A TCCAAGGTAAGTGCAG 52 10924 10939 719 849005 N/A N/A GACAAGAACGACAAAG 46 11495 11510 720 849021 N/A N/A GACAATGAAGAGGAGA 69 12240 12255 721 849037 N/A N/A CTCAATACCTGACAGA 50 12854 12869 722 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 81 13108 13123 337 849053 N/A N/A TGGTAAAAGCCCCCAC 39 13677 13692 723 849069 N/A N/A ATACATTGGCAGACAG 56 14121 14136 724 849085 N/A N/A ACTCATCAATAGGCAT 79 14450 14465 725 849101 N/A N/A CATCACAGGACTTACA 0 14913 14928 726 849117 N/A N/A CAAGAGACTCACTGGG 16 15581 15596 727 849133 N/A N/A TGCCAAGAAGGACCCA 61 16020 16035 728 848327 953 968 GACCATGACCCTGCCC 41 16345 16360 729 848343 997 1012 TGGAAGCGGGTCCCGT 11 16389 16404 730 849149 N/A N/A TGCTCGACGAACACAA 0 16633 16648 731 848357 1053 1068 CGCTGACCACCCCTGC 33 16683 16698 732 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 7 16705 16720 48 848372 1078 1093 CCCTTGGCCACGCCGG 49 16708 16723 733 848388 1137 1152 TGCCGCTAACCGTGCC 10 16767 16782 734 849165 N/A N/A GTGGAAGTCAAGCTGC 42 17550 17565 735 849181 N/A N/A GCCCCGTGCCAGGTCA 58 17960 17975 736 849197 N/A N/A TAGGAGACAGCTAGTG 25 18486 18501 737 849213 N/A N/A CACAAACTTGAACAGA 38 19248 19263 738 849229 N/A N/A CTTAATATATACATCC 0 19566 19581 739 849245 N/A N/A GCCAAGGTCACCCCTT 0 19963 19978 740 848404 1283 1298 GACCAGCACGACCCCA 13 20114 20129 741 849261 N/A N/A ACCTAGGTTACCGCTG 33 20918 20933 742 849277 N/A N/A AGGAAAATCTGACTGC 26 21182 21197 743 848420 1423 1438 ACACAGCGGCCAAAGT 0 21395 21410 744 848436 1552 1567 GCAGACAGCATCATGG 76 22045 22060 745 848452 1658 1673 GGTCAGTACCCGCTGG 29 22151 22166 746 849293 N/A N/A CCTATTTAAGGTGGCG 51 22311 22326 747 848468 1753 1768 CGTGTAGGCCCCGAGT 44 22535 22550 748 849309 N/A N/A CAGAAATGCCTGCCCC 64 23141 23156 749 848483 1928 1943 GCAGCACCTGGCAATG 0 23548 23563 750 848498 1999 2014 TGGACACGGGTCCCCA 2 23619 23634 751 849325 N/A N/A CCTCACCCCAGGGCAA 0 23678 23693 752 849341 N/A N/A GTAACGATAGCTAGAA 52 24145 24160 753 849357 N/A N/A TGAACATGGTAGGGTT 62 24788 24803 754 849373 N/A N/A AGGCAAGAGCTAGGAA 51 25267 25282 755 848514 2113 2128 ACGCACTGGTTGGGCT 5 25444 25459 756 849389 N/A N/A GTTAAATAGATCAGAG 15 25989 26004 757 849405 N/A N/A CCCCATAGCCTGCCCC 0 27058 27073 758 848530 2381 2396 GCAGATGGCAACGGCT 14 27524 27539 759 848546 2520 2535 CCATGGAGGGCTGAGA 3 27663 27678 760 848562 2619 2634 ACCCAGAGTGAGTGAG 29 27762 27777 761 848578 2715 2730 GCTGGCAGCACCCGAG 18 27858 27873 762 848593 2763 2778 AGCTCAATAAAAGTCA 61 27906 27921 763 848609 2820 2835 GAAGAATCCTGCCTCC 42 27963 27978 764 848625 2946 2961 TTAATCAGGGAGCCCC 31 28089 28104 765 848640 3050 3065 GCAGAGTAAAGGTGGC 38 28193 28208 766 848655 3125 3140 ACACTGCCGAGTCAGT 32 28268 28283 767 848671 3188 3203 GTGCGAATGTGTACCC 68 28331 28346 768 848686 3237 3252 GGCAGGCACGCCCCCT 17 28380 28395 769 848702 3265 3280 TCTGGCTCAGTTCCTG 51 28408 28423 770 848718 3332 3347 AAAAATGAGGAGCCCA 17 28475 28490 771 848734 3415 3430 TTCCATGCCTGCAGGC 35 28558 28573 772 848750 3502 3517 GGACAGTTGTTGGCCC 25 28645 28660 773 848765 3588 3603 GAAAAGTTGGCTGTAA 22 28731 28746 774

TABLE 11 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848209 51 66 ACCTTCTAGGGTGTGG 0 3526 3541 775 848225 242 257 CTGAAGTTCAGGAGCA 35 3717 3732 776 848241 479 494 GGCTAGCACCAGCTCC 58 3954 3969 777 848256 549 564 CGCAGCGGTGGAAGGT 15 4024 4039 778 848782 N/A N/A GCGAAGAGCCCTCGGC 33 4158 4173 779 848798 N/A N/A GGGAAGAAGCTTCCCA 0 4882 4897 780 848814 N/A N/A AGAAAGTCAAAGGCTC 74 5360 5375 781 848830 N/A N/A GACACCATCATCGCTG 67 5836 5851 782 848846 N/A N/A GGCAGACATACCTGCT 0 6694 6709 783 848862 N/A N/A GGCCTTAAGCTGCTTT 10 7048 7063 784 848878 N/A N/A ATATAAATCTCCCATC 9 7281 7296 785 848894 N/A N/A TCACATGGTTATATAA 37 7640 7655 786 848271 667 682 TATCCCCGGCGGGCAG 35 7940 7955 787 848283 683 698 CAGGATCTTGGTGAGG 49 7956 7971 788 848298 740 755 CAGCAGGTCGCCACTC 5 8013 8028 789 848910 N/A N/A AGCAATGGGCCTACTA 0 8107 8122 790 848926 N/A N/A AGCAACAGCTTCAAAG 11 8453 8468 791 848942 N/A N/A CTGATTAACCCATGGG 46 8833 8848 792 848958 N/A N/A TTACAGATAGAGGAAT 0 9365 9380 793 848974 N/A N/A GGACATGGAGTGAAGC 7 10200 10215 794 848313 801 816 GGGCAAAGACAGAGGA 11 10562 10577 795 848990 N/A N/A GGTAGAGTCACCATCA 40 10953 10968 796 849006 N/A N/A TCTCACAGCAACCTGT 0 11548 11563 797 849022 N/A N/A TCCTAACCCCCACAAC 0 12373 12388 798 849038 N/A N/A TGCAGGGCTAAAATCA 34 12880 12895 799 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 78 13108 13123 337 849054 N/A N/A GGCAGGTGGGCCTGGT 0 13689 13704 800 849070 N/A N/A GGATACATTGGCAGAC 41 14123 14138 801 849086 N/A N/A GTGTTAGGAGCTTTCA 60 14465 14480 802 849102 N/A N/A AGACACATCACAGGAC 27 14918 14933 803 849118 N/A N/A AAGAAGCAGGCACTGG 32 15608 15623 804 849134 N/A N/A AAGGAAAGGGAGGCCT 0 16081 16096 805 848328 964 979 TCGAAGTCGGTGACCA 17 16356 16371 806 848344 999 1014 TGTGGAAGCGGGTCCC 24 16391 16406 807 848358 1055 1070 GCCGCTGACCACCCCT 0 16685 16700 808 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 30 16705 16720 48 848373 1079 1094 ACCCTTGGCCACGCCG 30 16709 16724 809 848389 1145 1160 TATGAGGGTGCCGCTA 4 16775 16790 810 849150 N/A N/A ACTTACCTATGAGGGT 0 16782 16797 811 849166 N/A N/A GGCTTACAGTGGAAGT 8 17558 17573 812 849182 N/A N/A TGCCCCGTGCCAGGTC 41 17961 17976 813 849198 N/A N/A CCAGGAGCCGTGGCCA 12 18537 18552 814 849214 N/A N/A ACACAAACTTGAACAG 10 19249 19264 815 849230 N/A N/A TCTTAATATATACATC 0 19567 19582 816 849246 N/A N/A GAACAAAGCCAAGGTC 0 19970 19985 817 848405 1286 1301 GGTGACCAGCACGACC 0 20117 20132 818 849262 N/A N/A CCTTGATAGGCCAGGG 0 20937 20952 819 849278 N/A N/A TCCCACTCAAATGTCC 0 21205 21220 820 848421 1425 1440 CCACACAGCGGCCAAA 0 21397 21412 821 848437 1554 1569 CGGCAGACAGCATCAT 72 22047 22062 822 848453 1681 1696 GGCAGGGCGGCCACCA 0 22174 22189 823 849294 N/A N/A AAAATATTGCACAGCC 0 22353 22368 824 848469 1760 1775 GGCCATCCGTGTAGGC 0 22542 22557 825 849310 N/A N/A AGCATTAAGACCCCAT 21 23167 23182 826 848484 1929 1944 GGCAGCACCTGGCAAT 17 23549 23564 827 848499 2000 2015 GTGGACACGGGTCCCC 17 23620 23635 828 849326 N/A N/A AGAAAGAGACCCCTCC 0 23692 23707 829 849342 N/A N/A AAACAATAGTAACGAT 0 24153 24168 830 849358 N/A N/A TCTGAACATGGTAGGG 58 24790 24805 831 849374 N/A N/A GCCCATCCCCATCAGA 6 25303 25318 832 848515 2157 2172 GGGCATGGCAGCAGGA 17 25488 25503 833 849390 N/A N/A CTTCAGCATGCAGCTC 6 26093 26108 834 849406 N/A N/A TGAAACTGATGGCCCC 22 27070 27085 835 848531 2383 2398 CAGCAGATGGCAACGG 25 27526 27541 836 848547 2522 2537 GGCCATGGAGGGCTGA 0 27665 27680 837 848563 2623 2638 AGGCACCCAGAGTGAG 42 27766 27781 838 848579 2716 2731 AGCTGGCAGCACCCGA 20 27859 27874 839 848594 2770 2785 GAACAAGAGCTCAATA 13 27913 27928 840 848610 2822 2837 GGGAAGAATCCTGCCT 25 27965 27980 841 848626 2948 2963 CATTAATCAGGGAGCC 21 28091 28106 842 848641 3052 3067 GAGCAGAGTAAAGGTG 23 28195 28210 843 848656 3126 3141 CACACTGCCGAGTCAG 56 28269 28284 844 848672 3213 3228 AGGTTTCTTCCTCTGT 60 28356 28371 845 848687 3243 3258 GAGCTTGGCAGGCACG 67 28386 28401 846 848703 3266 3281 TTCTGGCTCAGTTCCT 20 28409 28424 847 848719 3334 3349 GTAAAAATGAGGAGCC 29 28477 28492 848 848735 3421 3436 AAAAAGTTCCATGCCT 9 28564 28579 849 848751 3506 3521 GGAGGGACAGTTGTTG 0 28649 28664 850 848766 3590 3605 TAGAAAAGTTGGCTGT 22 28733 28748 851

TABLE 12 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848345 1012 1027 TTGCTGGCCTGTCTGT 3 N/A N/A 852 848390 1148 1163 GCCTATGAGGGTGCCG 0 N/A N/A 853 848454 1708 1723 TGCCAACCTGCCCCAT 8 N/A N/A 854 848210 56 71 CGGAAACCTTCTAGGG 0 3531 3546 855 848226 244 259 AGCTGAAGTTCAGGAG 50 3719 3734 856 848242 480 495 AGGCTAGCACCAGCTC 37 3955 3970 857 848257 552 567 TGGCGCAGCGGTGGAA 0 4027 4042 858 848783 N/A N/A CCACTACCCGTCCTCC 0 4211 4226 859 848799 N/A N/A CGGGAAGAAGCTTCCC 0 4883 4898 860 848815 N/A N/A CCCCACAACATCCCTC 5 5377 5392 861 848831 N/A N/A AAAGAACTGTGGACAT 43 5935 5950 862 848847 N/A N/A AGGCAGACATACCTGC 0 6695 6710 863 848863 N/A N/A CTGCAAGCTCTCCAGG 17 7095 7110 864 848879 N/A N/A CAAGAGTGACGGTTAT 45 7295 7310 865 848895 N/A N/A TATTATTCACATGGTT 41 7646 7661 866 848272 668 683 GTATCCCCGGCGGGCA 37 7941 7956 867 848284 684 699 GCAGGATCTTGGTGAG 0 7957 7972 868 848299 743 758 CTCCAGCAGGTCGCCA 20 8016 8031 869 848911 N/A N/A ATACATACTTGCTGTC 21 8137 8152 870 848927 N/A N/A TGGATAGCAACAGCTT 70 8458 8473 871 848943 N/A N/A TGCTGAGCTGATTAAC 27 8840 8855 872 848959 N/A N/A AATTATTATAACTGGT 0 9381 9396 873 848975 N/A N/A GGGCAGGATGGACATG 4 10209 10224 874 848314 817 832 TTCCACGGGATGCTCT 3 10578 10593 875 848991 N/A N/A TTAAAGGATCTGGTCC 31 11011 11026 876 849007 N/A N/A GTGTATGCAAAGTCAC 55 11624 11639 877 849023 N/A N/A AGGGAACAGTGGCTGC 42 12407 12422 878 849039 N/A N/A TTATTGAATGGTAAGA 37 12905 12920 879 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 77 13108 13123 337 849055 N/A N/A CTGCAAGCATGGCCAG 33 13710 13725 880 849071 N/A N/A ACAACTGGATACATTG 57 14129 14144 881 849087 N/A N/A CACTTTGGTTTCTTCT 28 14560 14575 882 849103 N/A N/A CTTATGGCTTCGGTCA 42 15107 15122 883 849119 N/A N/A AGATACCAGGAGGGCT 48 15730 15745 884 849135 N/A N/A ATAGACAAGGAAAGGG 68 16087 16102 885 848329 971 986 CACATTCTCGAAGTCG 25 16363 16378 886 848359 1056 1071 GGCCGCTGACCACCCC 19 16686 16701 887 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 10 16705 16720 48 848374 1080 1095 CACCCTTGGCCACGCC 37 16710 16725 888 849151 N/A N/A ATGGAGAGAGACCAGC 20 16811 16826 889 849167 N/A N/A CACCAGAGCCAGTGTT 0 17590 17605 890 849183 N/A N/A CTGCCCCGTGCCAGGT 0 17962 17977 891 849199 N/A N/A TGTCAAATGAGGTGTG 15 18586 18601 892 849215 N/A N/A ATGAGAAGGGCACACT 0 19342 19357 893 849231 N/A N/A AACTCTTAATATATAC 0 19570 19585 894 849247 N/A N/A AGGAACAAAGCCAAGG 31 19972 19987 895 848406 1293 1308 CGGCAGCGGTGACCAG 0 20124 20139 896 849263 N/A N/A GCCTTGATAGGCCAGG 33 20938 20953 897 849279 N/A N/A AGAGAAAGGAGCCCAA 0 21290 21305 898 848422 1427 1442 GTCCACACAGCGGCCA 5 21399 21414 899 848438 1558 1573 GGCTCGGCAGACAGCA 58 22051 22066 900 849295 N/A N/A GGCTTAAAGAACATAC 28 22397 22412 901 848470 1772 1787 GGCGACGGCTGTGGCC 0 22554 22569 902 849311 N/A N/A GAGCATTAAGACCCCA 32 23168 23183 903 468480 1930 1945 AGGCAGCACCTGGCAA 19 23550 23565 904 848500 2001 2016 AGTGGACACGGGTCCC 56 23621 23636 905 849327 N/A N/A TCACACTTGTGAGGAC 0 23737 23752 906 849343 N/A N/A AAAGCAACGGGTGATG 0 24170 24185 907 849359 N/A N/A GTAAGATGGAAAGAGA 55 24877 24892 908 849375 N/A N/A CTGGGATGCTCCGTCT 0 25324 25339 909 848516 2172 2187 TGCATTCCAGACCTGG 6 25503 25518 910 849391 N/A N/A TGCTAACAACCTTCAG 0 26103 26118 911 849407 N/A N/A TACCATGCCAGTGCCA 29 27098 27113 912 848532 2386 2401 CGGCAGCAGATGGCAA 27 27529 27544 913 848548 2527 2542 TGCCAGGCCATGGAGG 0 27670 27685 914 848564 2628 2643 GGAGGAGGCACCCAGA 20 27771 27786 915 468487 2720 2735 GAGCAGCTGGCAGCAC 42 27863 27878 916 848595 2771 2786 GGAACAAGAGCTCAAT 47 27914 27929 917 848611 2828 2843 ATCCATGGGAAGAATC 15 27971 27986 918 848627 2951 2966 CTCCATTAATCAGGGA 26 28094 28109 919 848642 3055 3070 ATAGAGCAGAGTAAAG 0 28198 28213 920 848657 3127 3142 GCACACTGCCGAGTCA 46 28270 28285 921 848673 3214 3229 CAGGTTTCTTCCTCTG 34 28357 28372 922 848688 3245 3260 GTGAGCTTGGCAGGCA 70 28388 28403 923 848704 3267 3282 TTTCTGGCTCAGTTCC 54 28410 28425 924 848720 3336 3351 CCGTAAAAATGAGGAG 17 28479 28494 925 848736 3423 3438 GGAAAAAGTTCCATGC 57 28566 28581 926 468502 3508 3523 AAGGAGGGACAGTTGT 0 28651 28666 927 848767 3592 3607 TCTAGAAAAGTTGGCT 39 28735 28750 928

TABLE 13 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848258 561 576 ACGGATCCTTGGCGCA 38 N/A N/A 929 848300 753 768 TCAAGGCCAGCTCCAG 23 N/A N/A 930 848346 1014 1029 ACTTGCTGGCCTGTCT 0 N/A N/A 931 848391 1154 1169 CTCCAGGCCTATGAGG 0 N/A N/A 932 848211 58 73 TGCGGAAACCTTCTAG 0 3533 3548 933 848227 258 273 GAGGACTGTGCAGGAG 42 3733 3748 934 848243 481 496 AAGGCTAGCACCAGCT 23 3956 3971 935 848784 N/A N/A GGATATCCTGGCAGTG 0 4350 4365 936 848800 N/A N/A GAAAAAGCTAGTGGTC 30 4905 4920 937 848816 N/A N/A CTTGAAATGCCCTTTC 0 5408 5423 938 848832 N/A N/A TACATTTCAGACGGTG 61 6279 6294 939 848848 N/A N/A ATTATAGCAGCCACTA 13 6761 6776 940 848864 N/A N/A ATTTATTCAGCTCATG 1 7114 7129 941 848880 N/A N/A TGGGAAAGTCAAGAGT 44 7304 7319 942 848896 N/A N/A GCCAACTATTATTATT 26 7655 7670 943 466846 669 684 GGTATCCCCGGCGGGC 45 7942 7957 944 848285 685 700 TGCAGGATCTTGGTGA 0 7958 7973 945 848912 N/A N/A GATAAGTGCTCAATAC 33 8149 8164 946 848928 N/A N/A CTGGATAGCAACAGCT 71 8459 8474 947 848944 N/A N/A CGCCACAGGCCTTGGT 30 8881 8896 948 848960 N/A N/A CCAATTATTATAACTG 21 9383 9398 949 848976 N/A N/A AGCCAGGCTGTGCCAA 0 10231 10246 950 848315 824 839 CTCCAGGTTCCACGGG 0 10585 10600 951 848992 N/A N/A ATTAAAGGATCTGGTC 2 11012 11027 952 849008 N/A N/A CAGACATATGCAAGGT 68 11652 11667 953 849024 N/A N/A GCCCAAGGGAGAGGAG 0 12421 12436 954 849040 N/A N/A GTTATTATTGAATGGT 80 12909 12924 955 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 76 13108 13123 337 849056 N/A N/A CAGGAGGCTGCAAGCA 49 13717 13732 956 849072 N/A N/A CAGGAAGCAGCCCAAG 0 14175 14190 957 849088 N/A N/A CTCCACTGATCAGTCC 49 14582 14597 958 849104 N/A N/A CCAAATATGCTGCAGA 20 15185 15200 959 849120 N/A N/A AGAGACAGGAAGCTGC 63 15808 15823 960 849136 N/A N/A CACAGAAACTACAGAG 0 16199 16214 961 848330 974 989 GGGCACATTCTCGAAG 0 16366 16381 962 848360 1057 1072 CGGCCGCTGACCACCC 0 16687 16702 963 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 0 16705 16720 48 848375 1081 1096 GCACCCTTGGCCACGC 24 16711 16726 964 849152 N/A N/A CCAGATGGAGAGAGAC 26 16815 16830 965 849168 N/A N/A GGCTAGTGGGCTGCCT 0 17613 17628 966 849184 N/A N/A CCCTGCCCCGTGCCAG 0 17964 17979 967 849200 N/A N/A GCCTAACGCAGCTCTG 62 18644 18659 968 849216 N/A N/A GAGGAATGAGAAGGGC 61 19347 19362 969 849232 N/A N/A CCGCACGGTCACATGA 19 19592 19607 970 849248 N/A N/A GTGCCACAAGAAGCCC 9 20268 20283 971 20286 20301 848407 1301 1316 GAAGTTGCCGGCAGCG 24 20132 20147 972 849264 N/A N/A TAAATTCGGCCGCCAG 9 20958 20973 973 848423 1433 1448 AAAGAGGTCCACACAG 0 21405 21420 974 849280 N/A N/A CTGTTAGCATCACGGT 25 21542 21557 975 848439 1574 1589 GGCCAGGGTGAGCTCC 0 22067 22082 976 849296 N/A N/A GAGAGAGGAGGGCTTA 0 22407 22422 977 848455 1716 1731 AAAACAGCTGCCAACC 0 22498 22513 978 848471 1774 1789 CGGGCGACGGCTGTGG 0 22556 22571 979 849312 N/A N/A ACACGAGCATTAAGAC 45 23172 23187 980 848485 1932 1947 GCAGGCAGCACCTGGC 7 23552 23567 981 848501 2002 2017 CAGTGGACACGGGTCC 37 23622 23637 982 849328 N/A N/A CTGCAAGTCAGGCTTG 20 23764 23779 983 849344 N/A N/A TTTAAAGCAACGGGTG 47 24173 24188 984 849360 N/A N/A AGCTACACTGAGGCTC 23 24906 24921 985 848517 2177 2192 GACTTTGCATTCCAGA 41 25508 25523 986 849376 N/A N/A GGCAGAGGAAAGCCAG 0 25355 25370 987 849392 N/A N/A TGTCACATTCCAGGGC 43 26171 26186 988 849408 N/A N/A AGATAGACAGATGCCT 8 27113 27128 989 848533 2402 2417 CGCCAGGTGCCGGCTC 0 27545 27560 990 848549 2550 2565 GCGGAAGCATCCCCAT 0 27693 27708 991 848565 2669 2684 CCCCACAGTGAGGGAG 20 27812 27827 992 848580 2727 2742 ACATTGGGAGCAGCTG 34 27870 27885 993 848596 2772 2787 CGGAACAAGAGCTCAA 70 27915 27930 994 848612 2832 2847 CCCTATCCATGGGAAG 39 27975 27990 995 848628 2959 2974 AGCTAAGCCTCCATTA 15 28102 28117 996 848643 3057 3072 GCATAGAGCAGAGTAA 0 28200 28215 997 848658 3128 3143 TGCACACTGCCGAGTC 49 28271 28286 998 848674 3215 3230 CCAGGTTTCTTCCTCT 58 28358 28373 999 848689 3246 3261 TGTGAGCTTGGCAGGC 39 28389 28404 1000 848705 3268 3283 GTTTCTGGCTCAGTTC 3 28411 28426 1001 848721 3338 3353 ACCCGTAAAAATGAGG 0 28481 28496 1002 848737 3425 3440 ACGGAAAAAGTTCCAT 18 28568 28583 1003 848752 3511 3526 CTCAAGGAGGGACAGT 33 28654 28669 1004 848768 3599 3614 AAACAGGTCTAGAAAA 17 28742 28757 1005

TABLE 14 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 468456 1015 1030 CACTTGCTGGCCTGTC 22 N/A N/A 1006 848259 565 580 CTCCACGGATCCTTGG 0 N/A N/A 1007 848301 754 769 TTCAAGGCCAGCTCCA 42 N/A N/A 1008 848392 1159 1174 ATAAACTCCAGGCCTA 37 N/A N/A 1009 848212 64 79 CGTCGCTGCGGAAACC 41 3539 3554 1010 848228 293 308 GTCCACGCCGGCGGCG 32 3768 3783 1011 848244 482 497 CAAGGCTAGCACCAGC 45 3957 3972 1012 848785 N/A N/A GAAATCTGGGCAGGAT 39 4362 4377 1013 848801 N/A N/A CACCACAGCTAGTGAG 28 5003 5018 1014 848817 N/A N/A CACTATTTCCAGAACA 20 5445 5460 1015 848833 N/A N/A AATAATCTCATGTCAG 77 6356 6371 1016 848849 N/A N/A CAAATTATAGCAGCCA 85 6764 6779 1017 848865 N/A N/A GATTTATTCAGCTCAT 65 7115 7130 1018 848881 N/A N/A CCACAGTACCTATGAC 0 7330 7345 1019 848897 N/A N/A CAAATGCGGACCAAAA 38 7694 7709 1020 848273 670 685 AGGTATCCCCGGCGGG 26 7943 7958 1021 848286 686 701 ATGCAGGATCTTGGTG 0 7959 7974 1022 848913 N/A N/A CGATAAGTGCTCAATA 25 8150 8165 1023 848929 N/A N/A AAAGAAGGGACTTCAC 29 8476 8491 1024 848945 N/A N/A ACTTAGACTACGGGTT 25 8931 8946 1025 848961 N/A N/A TCCTTAAATGAATGTT 41 9399 9414 1026 848977 N/A N/A CTTGATCAGGCTGGGA 0 10332 10347 1027 848316 833 848 GGTAATCCGCTCCAGG 59 10594 10609 1028 848993 N/A N/A TCCCATTAAAGGATCT 23 11016 11031 1029 849009 N/A N/A ACACATGACCGACCAG 0 11773 11788 1030 849025 N/A N/A CTCCAGCCAAGCCCTT 40 12570 12585 1031 849041 N/A N/A TCTGGATACACTGTTG 27 13008 13023 1032 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 85 13108 13123 337 849057 N/A N/A GGTCAGGAGGCTGCAA 61 13720 13735 1033 849073 N/A N/A TGCTCAGGAAGCAGCC 43 14179 14194 1034 849089 N/A N/A CCCTAAGGCCTCCAGT 41 14610 14625 1035 849105 N/A N/A CTGAACAGCACCTCTG 37 15220 15235 1036 849121 N/A N/A TTAGAGACAGGAAGCT 28 15810 15825 1037 849137 N/A N/A CTTATAGTTAACACAC 0 16212 16227 1038 848331 980 995 CTCCTCGGGCACATTC 7 16372 16387 1039 848361 1058 1073 CCGGCCGCTGACCACC 30 16688 16703 1040 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 31 16705 16720 48 848376 1082 1097 GGCACCCTTGGCCACG 52 16712 16727 1041 849153 N/A N/A GCCCAAGCCACCTCCC 0 16840 16855 1042 849169 N/A N/A AGGAAAGTCTCAGGGC 78 17681 17696 1043 849185 N/A N/A AGCCCCTGCCCCGTGC 18 17967 17982 1044 849201 N/A N/A GGCCTAACGCAGCTCT 34 18645 18660 1045 849217 N/A N/A AGGCACCAAGAGGATG 20 19370 19385 1046 849233 N/A N/A GCGGATTTCAGACTTG 80 19613 19628 1047 848408 1304 1319 CCGGAAGTTGCCGGCA 3 20135 20150 1048 849249 N/A N/A CGTGCCACAAGAAGCC 21 20269 20284 1049 20287 20302 849265 N/A N/A GCCTTTAAATTCGGCC 0 20963 20978 1050 848424 1435 1450 GCAAAGAGGTCCACAC 0 21407 21422 1051 849281 N/A N/A GGCACTGGAGGTCCCG 31 21583 21598 1052 848440 1582 1597 CTCAACTCGGCCAGGG 43 22075 22090 1053 849297 N/A N/A TAGGAGAGAGGAGGGC 21 22410 22425 1054 848456 1718 1733 GCAAAACAGCTGCCAA 24 22500 22515 1055 848472 1778 1793 GCAGCGGGCGACGGCT 0 22560 22575 1056 849313 N/A N/A CTCTCACACGAGCATT 11 23177 23192 1057 848486 1933 1948 AGCAGGCAGCACCTGG 35 23553 23568 1058 848502 2003 2018 GCAGTGGACACGGGTC 43 23623 23638 1059 849329 N/A N/A GTATGGAACTGCAAGT 0 23772 23787 1060 849345 N/A N/A ATTTTAAAGCAACGGG 75 24175 24190 1061 849361 N/A N/A AAACCTAAAATAGTGG 4 24928 24943 1062 849377 N/A N/A GGGCAGAGGAAAGCCA 12 25356 25371 1063 848518 2190 2205 TTCCATGCTCCTTGAC 11 25521 25536 1064 849393 N/A N/A ATACACTCAGGTTTCT 45 26199 26214 1065 849409 N/A N/A ACCCAGGCGGTTCTGC 10 27185 27200 1066 848534 2427 2442 GTCACTGGAGCTCCTG 59 27570 27585 1067 848550 2554 2569 AAAGGCGGAAGCATCC 23 27697 27712 1068 848566 2677 2692 GTGAAATGCCCCACAG 34 27820 27835 1069 848581 2729 2744 GCACATTGGGAGCAGC 58 27872 27887 1070 848597 2773 2788 ACGGAACAAGAGCTCA 77 27916 27931 1071 848613 2869 2884 CAACGATGTTTGTCCC 67 28012 28027 1072 848629 2962 2977 GAAAGCTAAGCCTCCA 69 28105 28120 1073 848644 3059 3074 TGGCATAGAGCAGAGT 49 28202 28217 1074 848659 3129 3144 CTGCACACTGCCGAGT 48 28272 28287 1075 848675 3216 3231 TCCAGGTTTCTTCCTC 63 28359 28374 1076 848690 3247 3262 GTGTGAGCTTGGCAGG 78 28390 28405 1077 848706 3269 3284 CGTTTCTGGCTCAGTT 55 28412 28427 1078 848722 3342 3357 TGTTACCCGTAAAAAT 0 28485 28500 1079 848738 3427 3442 TAACGGAAAAAGTTCC 64 28570 28585 1080 848753 3513 3528 TGCTCAAGGAGGGACA 27 28656 28671 1081 848769 3601 3616 CAAAACAGGTCTAGAA 43 28744 28759 1082

TABLE 15 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848302 755 770 CTTCAAGGCCAGCTCC 0 N/A N/A 1083 848347 1016 1031 ACACTTGCTGGCCTGT 0 N/A N/A 1084 848213 85 100 CTGCAACCATGAGCGC 4 3560 3575 1085 848229 309 324 CTAGAGGCCGTGCGCG 18 3784 3799 1086 848245 483 498 GCAAGGCTAGCACCAG 45 3958 3973 1087 848786 N/A N/A GAAACTGGGAAATCTG 0 4370 4385 1088 848802 N/A N/A GTCAAGCACCACAGCT 54 5009 5024 1089 848818 N/A N/A CCTCAAGGGCTTGGTT 0 5509 5524 1090 848834 N/A N/A AATCTATGCAGCAAAA 0 6407 6422 1091 848850 N/A N/A AACAAATTATAGCAGC 75 6766 6781 1092 848882 N/A N/A GACCACAGTACCTATG 30 7332 7347 1093 848898 N/A N/A ACCAAATGCGGACCAA 66 7696 7711 1094 848260 571 586 GGCAACCTCCACGGAT 53 7844 7859 1095 466847 671 686 GAGGTATCCCCGGCGG 73 7944 7959 1096 848287 687 702 CATGCAGGATCTTGGT 5 7960 7975 1097 848914 N/A N/A TGCTTGGTACCCGATA 39 8161 8176 1098 848930 N/A N/A CCTAAAGAAGGGACTT 18 8479 8494 1099 848946 N/A N/A AGGCATTGACTTGTCA 46 8956 8971 1100 848962 N/A N/A TACCTAGCATCTGCTG 0 9437 9452 1101 848978 N/A N/A ACAGACTAGGAGCCTG 0 10361 10376 1102 848317 852 867 CCGCCCGGTACCGTGG 0 10613 10628 1103 848994 N/A N/A AGGCATCCCAGACAGG 52 11042 11057 1104 849010 N/A N/A GCACACATGACCGACC 0 11775 11790 1105 849026 N/A N/A CCCCATGCCAGCCCAA 33 12604 12619 1106 849042 N/A N/A ATTAATCTTCTGGATA 13 13016 13031 1107 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 82 13108 13123 337 849058 N/A N/A GGACAGGGTCAGGAGG 22 13726 13741 1108 849074 N/A N/A GGATACAGGTGCTCAG 55 14188 14203 1109 849090 N/A N/A ACACACACTGTCTACC 38 14629 14644 1110 849106 N/A N/A CCTCAGGTGGAATCAG 56 15306 15321 1111 849122 N/A N/A GAATAACAGTGATGTC 17 15852 15867 1112 849138 N/A N/A ACCTTATAGTTAACAC 4 16214 16229 1113 848332 982 997 TCCTCCTCGGGCACAT 21 16374 16389 1114 848362 1059 1074 CCCGGCCGCTGACCAC 0 16689 16704 1115 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 0 16705 16720 48 848377 1083 1098 TGGCACCCTTGGCCAC 0 16713 16728 1116 849154 N/A N/A GGTCAAGGCTGAACTC 27 17014 17029 1117 849170 N/A N/A TAGGAAAGTCTCAGGG 36 17682 17697 1118 849186 N/A N/A AGGCAATAGTGACTGT 52 17985 18000 1119 849202 N/A N/A CTGGAGACTGGAGGCC 0 18657 18672 1120 849218 N/A N/A GAAAGAGAGGCACCAA 0 19377 19392 1121 849234 N/A N/A TGCGGATTTCAGACTT 24 19614 19629 1122 848393 1161 1176 GAATAAACTCCAGGCC 0 19992 20007 1123 848409 1322 1337 GTAGAGGCAGGCATCG 42 20153 20168 1124 849250 N/A N/A CAGAAGGGTTCGGCCT 32 20310 20325 1125 849266 N/A N/A GGCTTTGTTTGCTTGA 68 20980 20995 1126 848425 1437 1452 GGGCAAAGAGGTCCAC 0 21409 21424 1127 849282 N/A N/A CATCAGGCCTACTTCA 0 21624 21639 1128 848441 1603 1618 GAGAAGTGGATCAGTC 0 22096 22111 1129 849298 N/A N/A TGCAAAAAGGGCCTGG 0 22482 22497 1130 848457 1720 1735 CTGCAAAACAGCTGCC 13 22502 22517 1131 848473 1780 1795 GCGCAGCGGGCGACGG 0 22562 22577 1132 849314 N/A N/A ATCCAGCCAGCTCCAC 7 23207 23222 1133 848487 1934 1949 TAGCAGGCAGCACCTG 0 23554 23569 1134 848503 2004 2019 GGCAGTGGACACGGGT 26 23624 23639 1135 849330 N/A N/A GGCAGAACCAGAGTAT 0 23784 23799 1136 849346 N/A N/A CAATAGTTGCCTATAC 0 24201 24216 1137 849362 N/A N/A AGACACACCCATTGGC 8 24948 24963 1138 848519 2198 2213 GGCCGGGATTCCATGC 0 25529 25544 1139 849378 N/A N/A ACGCAGCACCCCACCC 0 25581 25596 1140 849394 N/A N/A AAGGAGAGTTATACAC 53 26209 26224 1141 849410 N/A N/A GGACACAACCGTGTAT 0 27220 27235 1142 848535 2447 2462 ACCCATCCTGGGATGG 0 27590 27605 1143 848551 2556 2571 GGAAAGGCGGAAGCAT 38 27699 27714 1144 848567 2684 2699 TTGAATGGTGAAATGC 65 27827 27842 1145 848582 2731 2746 CGGCACATTGGGAGCA 33 27874 27889 1146 848598 2774 2789 CACGGAACAAGAGCTC 68 27917 27932 1147 848614 2872 2887 CCCCAACGATGTTTGT 32 28015 28030 1148 848630 2964 2979 CAGAAAGCTAAGCCTC 72 28107 28122 1149 466853 3067 3082 GCACAGCCTGGCATAG 51 28210 28225 1150 848660 3130 3145 ACTGCACACTGCCGAG 1 28273 28288 1151 848676 3218 3233 GTTCCAGGTTTCTTCC 43 28361 28376 1152 848691 3248 3263 TGTGTGAGCTTGGCAG 22 28391 28406 1153 848707 3284 3299 AGCCAGCCCAATCTGC 0 28427 28442 1154 848723 3348 3363 CCTCACTGTTACCCGT 36 28491 28506 1155 848739 3429 3444 GATAACGGAAAAAGTT 0 28572 28587 1156 848754 3543 3558 ATAAATGTCTGCTTGC 52 28686 28701 1157 848770 3603 3618 AGCAAAACAGGTCTAG 60 28746 28761 1158

TABLE 16 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848303 756 771 ACTTCAAGGCCAGCTC 43 N/A N/A 1159 848214 105 120 AACTGAACGGCGGCGC 0 3580 3595 1160 848230 311 326 ACCTAGAGGCCGTGCG 30 3786 3801 1161 848246 484 499 CGCAAGGCTAGCACCA 45 3959 3974 1162 848787 N/A N/A GGCGAGGCAGAAACTG 29 4379 4394 1163 848803 N/A N/A TCAAGGATAAGTGACT 42 5026 5041 1164 848819 N/A N/A AGAAACATCCTCAAGG 38 5517 5532 1165 848835 N/A N/A TAATCTATGCAGCAAA 0 6408 6423 1166 848851 N/A N/A CCAAATTTCCACATGA 41 6797 6812 1167 848867 N/A N/A AAGGAATACCTGAAGG 22 7153 7168 1168 848883 N/A N/A CCTCAGATACCTCTGC 17 7359 7374 1169 848899 N/A N/A GTATAGTAGATGATAA 0 7719 7734 1170 848261 576 591 TGCCAGGCAACCTCCA 14 7849 7864 1171 848274 672 687 TGAGGTATCCCCGGCG 14 7945 7960 1172 848288 688 703 ACATGCAGGATCTTGG 16 7961 7976 1173 848915 N/A N/A AGCCAGTAGTTACTGT 9 8176 8191 1174 848931 N/A N/A GAAGATGTGACATCCA 28 8517 8532 1175 848947 N/A N/A GAGCAGACTGATGGAA 4 8971 8986 1176 848963 N/A N/A GTGGTAACAGCCTCCT 26 9526 9541 1177 848979 N/A N/A GGACAGACTAGGAGCC 4 10363 10378 1178 848318 858 873 ATTCATCCGCCCGGTA 0 10619 10634 1179 848995 N/A N/A AGGTAGGCAGAGGCAT 20 11052 11067 1180 849011 N/A N/A GGCCGGGTCAGCACAC 0 11785 11800 1181 849027 N/A N/A GGCCCATGCTTGTGGC 0 12663 12678 1182 849043 N/A N/A AGGAATGGATTAATCT 48 13024 13039 1183 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 81 13108 13123 337 849059 N/A N/A TCTAAGTGCAGGCGGT 23 13776 13791 1184 849075 N/A N/A CAGCAAGGTGGGCAGA 10 14274 14289 1185 849091 N/A N/A GCACAGTCCGAACTGT 0 14660 14675 1186 849107 N/A N/A GCGGAAATGGCCTGGC 0 15353 15368 1187 849123 N/A N/A GGAGAATAACAGTGAT 62 15855 15870 1188 849139 N/A N/A AACCTTATAGTTAACA 0 16215 16230 1189 848333 983 998 GTCCTCCTCGGGCACA 18 16375 16390 1190 468457 1017 1032 CACACTTGCTGGCCTG 0 16647 16662 1191 848363 1060 1075 TCCCGGCCGCTGACCA 30 16690 16705 1192 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 0 16705 16720 48 848378 1084 1099 CTGGCACCCTTGGCCA 0 16714 16729 1193 849155 N/A N/A AGACATCACCGGATTT 42 17074 17089 1194 849171 N/A N/A CTGTAGGAAAGTCTCA 49 17685 17700 1195 849187 N/A N/A GGACACACAATCACCT 14 18033 18048 1196 849203 N/A N/A CAGTAACAGTTCTAAC 0 18706 18721 1197 849219 N/A N/A CTTATTATCCCTTTCC 29 19395 19410 1198 849235 N/A N/A TCAAATTCTGCAGGAA 0 19653 19668 1199 848394 1163 1178 CCGAATAAACTCCAGG 42 19994 20009 1200 848410 1324 1339 GAGTAGAGGCAGGCAT 0 20155 20170 1201 849251 N/A N/A CCAAAGCCAGAAGGGT 32 20317 20332 1202 849267 N/A N/A TTCTAAGTGCCACGGG 66 21029 21044 1203 848426 1455 1470 CAATGATGTCCTCCCC 0 21427 21442 1204 849283 N/A N/A TCCCGATCAAATGTCC 0 21772 21787 1205 848442 1606 1621 GCAGAGAAGTGGATCA 0 22099 22114 1206 849299 N/A N/A TGCCAACCTGCAAAAA 0 22490 22505 1207 848458 1728 1743 ATACAGTCCTGCAAAA 0 22510 22525 1208 848474 1803 1818 AGCTCAGCAGCTCCTC 11 22585 22600 1209 849315 N/A N/A ATCCAGGAGGCCAAAG 0 23228 23243 1210 848488 1937 1952 GGGTAGCAGGCAGCAC 0 23557 23572 1211 848504 2005 2020 TGGCAGTGGACACGGG 17 23625 23640 1212 849331 N/A N/A GGAGAAGTAAGGTCAC 52 23827 23842 1213 849347 N/A N/A GTCAATAGTTGCCTAT 33 24203 24218 1214 849363 N/A N/A GTTCAAGGGTAAGCCG 25 25011 25026 1215 849379 N/A N/A TGGCACAAACTGACAC 0 25619 25634 1216 849395 N/A N/A TTAAGAGTGGACTCCT 40 26260 26275 1217 849411 N/A N/A CCAAAGTGCAGACGGC 0 27260 27275 1218 848520 2222 2237 GGCCACGGTCACCTGC 0 27365 27380 1219 848536 2455 2470 CCCCAGACACCCATCC 26 27598 27613 1220 848552 2558 2573 CCGGAAAGGCGGAAGC 0 27701 27716 1221 848568 2700 2715 GCACAGCTCGACCTGT 3 27843 27858 1222 848583 2737 2752 GGACATCGGCACATTG 68 27880 27895 1223 848599 2775 2790 GCACGGAACAAGAGCT 19 27918 27933 1224 848615 2885 2900 TTTCACACTCACCCCC 7 28028 28043 1225 848631 2967 2982 ATCCAGAAAGCTAAGC 1 28110 28125 1226 848645 3072 3087 TGCTAGCACAGCCTGG 19 28215 28230 1227 848661 3131 3146 CACTGCACACTGCCGA 11 28274 28289 1228 848677 3219 3234 GGTTCCAGGTTTCTTC 61 28362 28377 1229 848692 3249 3264 CTGTGTGAGCTTGGCA 69 28392 28407 1230 848708 3288 3303 TCAGAGCCAGCCCAAT 8 28431 28446 1231 848724 3378 3393 GAGCTTCCTGGTCTGT 47 28521 28536 1232 848740 3431 3446 GTGATAACGGAAAAAG 65 28574 28589 1233 848755 3545 3560 AGATAAATGTCTGCTT 14 28688 28703 1234 848771 3616 3631 TTCAAGTTACAAAAGC 57 28759 28774 1235

TABLE 17 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848306 759 774 GCAACTTCAAGGCCAG 84 N/A N/A 1236 848217 149 164 AGCCAGTCTCACTGCC 30 3624 3639 1237 848233 362 377 GCTGACGGTGCCCATG 51 3837 3852 1238 848249 487 502 GAACGCAAGGCTAGCA 5 3962 3977 1239 848790 N/A N/A CCAAATCGGAACCCAC 88 4478 4493 1240 848806 N/A N/A ACAGAACTTTCCCTTC 57 5114 5129 1241 848822 N/A N/A TAAATTCGATTCCCAC 32 5600 5615 1242 848838 N/A N/A AGGCAGTAATGGGCAA 92 6461 6476 1243 848854 N/A N/A TCCAACACTGAGGACC 93 6811 6826 1244 848870 N/A N/A AAAGGCAACACTTCTT 61 7222 7237 1245 848886 N/A N/A CAATATTTACTGGTTG 57 7409 7424 1246 848902 N/A N/A CTTACAAATTACAACA 59 7751 7766 1247 848264 622 637 TCTGACTGCGAGAGGT 71 7895 7910 1248 466849 675 690 TGGTGAGGTATCCCCG 48 7948 7963 1249 468444 691 706 AAGACATGCAGGATCT 30 7964 7979 1250 848918 N/A N/A GACCAATGGGTTTGAT 13 8311 8326 1251 848934 N/A N/A GAGAATACCCAGTCCC 50 8550 8565 1252 848950 N/A N/A GCTCAAGGGAAAGGCC 3 9044 9059 1253 848966 N/A N/A GGACAAGAGTGCATCA 6 10011 10026 1254 848982 N/A N/A GGCCTTACCTGATCAA 12 10437 10452 1255 848998 N/A N/A CTAGAACCCTTCATTC 0 11304 11319 1256 849014 N/A N/A TCTCACCTGGTTGGAA 31 11856 11871 1257 849030 N/A N/A GTTAAGAGTGCAGGGT 90 12708 12723 1258 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 92 13108 13123 337 849046 N/A N/A CCGTAGGTCTTGGCTA 65 13166 13181 1259 849062 N/A N/A AGCTGTACCTGGGTTC 79 13888 13903 1260 849078 N/A N/A CCTAGAGGAACCACTA 51 14340 14355 1261 849094 N/A N/A ACATGAATTTCAGGCA 73 14731 14746 1262 849110 N/A N/A TCTCAGCCAGGCCAAA 0 15411 15426 1263 849126 N/A N/A CCCTATTATAGCCTTT 67 15920 15935 1264 848321 890 905 CTCCACCAGGCTGCCT 0 16282 16297 1265 848336 986 1001 CCCGTCCTCCTCGGGC 0 16378 16393 1266 849142 N/A N/A CCATCAGACGGCCGTG 48 16417 16432 1267 848350 1020 1035 TGTCACACTTGCTGGC 45 16650 16665 1268 848365 1064 1079 GGCATCCCGGCCGCTG 62 16694 16709 1269 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 0 16705 16720 48 848381 1098 1113 GCAGGCTGCGCATGCT 42 16728 16743 1270 849158 N/A N/A TGCAAGCAGAAGATAG 39 17153 17168 1271 849174 N/A N/A CAGGAACTGACCTGAC 21 17808 17823 1272 849190 N/A N/A TACAGCTGCTAGTTAT 59 18086 18101 1273 18399 18414 849206 N/A N/A GTGCAGGCCATGGTCT 68 19054 19069 1274 849222 N/A N/A ATATACGAACTCAGGG 0 19426 19441 1275 849238 N/A N/A GGCCTTAAGAGAACAG 46 19734 19749 1276 848397 1178 1193 GACCAGCTGGCTTTTC 2 20009 20024 1277 849254 N/A N/A CCCAAAGAGTATTGGG 0 20552 20567 1278 849270 N/A N/A AACTATTCGGTGTATC 67 21051 21066 1279 848413 1358 1373 CCCAACTGTGATGACC 0 21330 21345 1280 848429 1485 1500 CAAAGCAGGTGCTGCA 36 21457 21472 1281 849286 N/A N/A AGGTAAGACAGCCTCC 53 21856 21871 1282 848445 1619 1634 GATGACATCTTTGGCA 59 22112 22127 1283 848461 1732 1747 GACCATACAGTCCTGC 17 22514 22529 1284 848477 1816 1831 GAGAAACTGGAGCAGC 0 22598 22613 1285 849302 N/A N/A TAGCAGATCGCTGACC 67 22948 22963 1286 849318 N/A N/A ACTCAAGCACCCTCAT 0 23394 23409 1287 848491 1985 2000 CATGCTGGCCTCAGCT 11 23605 23620 1288 848507 2008 2023 TGGTGGCAGTGGACAC 71 23628 23643 1289 849334 N/A N/A AATGAGGCAGGTAATA 19 23879 23894 1290 849350 N/A N/A CCTCAGGGCACCATCC 72 24293 24308 1291 849366 N/A N/A GGGAAAACACCATCTT 31 25120 25135 1292 849382 N/A N/A AGCATCTACCTGGCAA 39 25666 25681 1293 849398 N/A N/A GTGTACCCAGGGCAAG 59 26373 26388 1294 849414 N/A N/A AAGCACATGTCTAGCG 8 27331 27346 1295 848523 2246 2261 AGTCAGGGTCCAGCCC 63 27389 27404 1296 848539 2487 2502 CATTTTAAAGCTCAGC 87 27630 27645 1297 848555 2580 2595 CTCAAGGGCCAGGCCA 70 27723 27738 1298 848571 2708 2723 GCACCCGAGCACAGCT 75 27851 27866 1299 848586 2743 2758 GCCCACGGACATCGGC 58 27886 27901 1300 848602 2778 2793 CTGGCACGGAACAAGA 8 27921 27936 1301 848618 2904 2919 GATGAGGGCCATCAGC 87 28047 28062 1302 848633 2978 2993 GGCTAGATGCCATCCA 64 28121 28136 1303 848648 3093 3108 CCGCAGGCCACCTTTG 12 28236 28251 1304 848664 3146 3161 AGACAGTGCATGCACC 10 28289 28304 1305 848680 3222 3237 TCTGGTTCCAGGTTTC 89 28365 28380 1306 848695 3255 3270 TTCCTGCTGTGTGAGC 63 28398 28413 1307 848711 3304 3319 AAGAAGAGGCTTGGCT 38 28447 28462 1308 848727 3382 3397 CACCGAGCTTCCTGGT 66 28525 28540 1309 848743 3446 3461 GTGAATCAGGCCTGGG 31 28589 28604 1310 848758 3558 3573 GGACAGACCCAAAAGA 71 28701 28716 1311 848774 3641 3656 TGCTACAAAACCCAGA 95 28784 28799 1312

TABLE 18 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848218 153 168 CCCGAGCCAGTCTCAC 1 3628 3643 1313 848234 368 383 CCTGGAGCTGACGGTG 18 3843 3858 1314 848250 488 503 GGAACGCAAGGCTAGC 77 3963 3978 1315 848791 N/A N/A TTCCAAACCAAATCGG 46 4485 4500 1316 848807 N/A N/A GGACAAAACTGCAAGT 42 5170 5185 1317 848823 N/A N/A TTCTAAATTCGATTCC 61 5603 5618 1318 848839 N/A N/A TTAGAAAGGCAGTAAT 30 6467 6482 1319 848855 N/A N/A CAAGGACGGCACCAAG 37 6881 6896 1320 848871 N/A N/A GAAGGGATGACTAAGT 0 7242 7257 1321 848887 N/A N/A AGGAAACCGTGGACCT 60 7437 7452 1322 848903 N/A N/A CCTACTTACAAATTAC 4 7755 7770 1323 848265 633 648 GGGCAGTGCGCTCTGA 78 7906 7921 1324 848276 676 691 TTGGTGAGGTATCCCC 66 7949 7964 1325 848291 692 707 GAAGACATGCAGGATC 61 7965 7980 1326 848919 N/A N/A GGCAGACCAATGGGTT 10 8315 8330 1327 848935 N/A N/A TAAGATTTGAAGCACT 60 8580 8595 1328 848951 N/A N/A CTGAACTGTAAGCTCA 46 9055 9070 1329 848967 N/A N/A GGCACTAGCAGGAGTT 62 10031 10046 1330 848983 N/A N/A ATGGATTCAGCTCAGA 66 10680 10695 1331 848999 N/A N/A TCCAACTAGAACCCTT 87 11309 11324 1332 849015 N/A N/A CACTGAAGAGGTCTCA 17 11867 11882 1333 849031 N/A N/A AGGAACCTGAAGATCA 72 12756 12771 1334 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 85 13108 13123 337 849047 N/A N/A TAATAATGCCCCCGTA 49 13177 13192 1335 849063 N/A N/A AGTTAGCCCAGGTGAG 6 13951 13966 1336 849079 N/A N/A CGCCACCCTAGAGGAA 0 14346 14361 1337 849095 N/A N/A AGCAATTCAGTGGCTG 49 14759 14774 1338 849111 N/A N/A CTCCAGCGCAGGTCTC 35 15433 15448 1339 849127 N/A N/A GTGTAAAATAAAGCCC 77 15934 15949 1340 848322 900 915 GGAGATACACCTCCAC 15 16292 16307 1341 848337 987 1002 TCCCGTCCTCCTCGGG 8 16379 16394 1342 849143 N/A N/A GGACAGTGACAGCTGG 39 16524 16539 1343 848351 1021 1036 CTGTCACACTTGCTGG 8 16651 16666 1344 848366 1070 1085 CACGCCGGCATCCCGG 3 16700 16715 1345 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 0 16705 16720 48 848382 1100 1115 GCGCAGGCTGCGCATG 0 16730 16745 1346 849159 N/A N/A ATGCAAGTGAGTGAGT 74 17187 17202 1347 849175 N/A N/A GGAAAGAACAGCCTCC 44 17842 17857 1348 849191 N/A N/A GATACAGACACCCACC 37 18250 18265 1349 849207 N/A N/A TACCATAACTCCCCAC 37 19123 19138 1350 849223 N/A N/A ATCAAACTAGCCAACC 0 19482 19497 1351 849239 N/A N/A GAAGACGGAGTAAGGC 81 19795 19810 1352 848398 1183 1198 GGCTGGACCAGCTGGC 0 20014 20029 1353 849255 N/A N/A GGCCCAAAGAGTATTG 0 20554 20569 1354 849271 N/A N/A GAAACTATTCGGTGTA 38 21053 21068 1355 848414 1370 1385 GGCATTGGTGGCCCCA 19 21342 21357 1356 848430 1492 1507 TGTGACACAAAGCAGG 84 21464 21479 1357 849287 N/A N/A CGAAGGTAAGCCGCCT 56 21889 21904 1358 848446 1626 1641 CCTCATTGATGACATC 0 22119 22134 1359 848462 1733 1748 TGACCATACAGTCCTG 19 22515 22530 1360 848478 1842 1857 GCTCGCCCCGCCGCTT 35 22624 22639 1361 849303 N/A N/A GGCTGAGTCCAGAGTA 89 22962 22977 1362 849319 N/A N/A GAAATGGGAATCTGCT 0 23454 23469 1363 848492 1986 2001 CCATGCTGGCCTCAGC 32 23606 23621 1364 849335 N/A N/A CAGCTATAGAGCGGCA 0 24045 24060 1365 849351 N/A N/A GAACAGCTCAGCCTCA 0 24304 24319 1366 849367 N/A N/A AGCCTTAGTTTCTCAG 25 25135 25150 1367 848508 2047 2062 TCCCAGTGGGAGCTGC 0 25378 25393 1368 849383 N/A N/A CCACAGCATCTACCTG 80 25670 25685 1369 849399 N/A N/A CCAGGAAGAGCACCTG 17 26406 26421 1370 849415 N/A N/A AGAAAGCACATGTCTA 0 27334 27349 1371 848524 2250 2265 AGCCAGTCAGGGTCCA 55 27393 27408 1372 848540 2490 2505 AACCATTTTAAAGCTC 45 27633 27648 1373 848556 2582 2597 CACTCAAGGGCCAGGC 37 27725 27740 1374 848572 2709 2724 AGCACCCGAGCACAGC 89 27852 27867 1375 848587 2752 2767 AGTCATTCTGCCCACG 78 27895 27910 1376 848603 2779 2794 CCTGGCACGGAACAAG 51 27922 27937 1377 848619 2906 2921 GAGATGAGGGCCATCA 80 28049 28064 1378 848634 2999 3014 GCGCACCTGTCTCCAG 0 28142 28157 1379 848649 3110 3125 TCCTAGGTGATGGCTC 80 28253 28268 1380 848665 3148 3163 TGAGACAGTGCATGCA 37 28291 28306 1381 848681 3223 3238 CTCTGGTTCCAGGTTT 43 28366 28381 1382 848696 3256 3271 GTTCCTGCTGTGTGAG 78 28399 28414 1383 848712 3306 3321 GTAAGAAGAGGCTTGG 75 28449 28464 1384 848728 3383 3398 TCACCGAGCTTCCTGG 50 28526 28541 1385 848744 3451 3466 GGCCAGTGAATCAGGC 17 28594 28609 1386 848759 3563 3578 AGAGAGGACAGACCCA 83 28706 28721 1387 848775 3644 3659 AAATGCTACAAAACCC 67 28787 28802 1388 848307 760 775 GGCAACTTCAAGGCCA 0 N/A N/A 1389

TABLE 19 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848219 181 196 CGCTGCTGCAACGACG 66 3656 3671 1390 848235 378 393 ACCAGGACCGCCTGGA 0 3853 3868 1391 848251 489 504 CGGAACGCAAGGCTAG 62 3964 3979 1392 848792 N/A N/A GTCATAAAGAAATTGC 47 4593 4608 1393 848808 N/A N/A TGGCAGAATTTTCCCC 17 5249 5264 1394 848824 N/A N/A TTTCATTCTAAATTCG 58 5608 5623 1395 848840 N/A N/A CTTTACCCAAAGCCTT 0 6523 6538 1396 848856 N/A N/A CATAGCGGGAGAACTT 51 6908 6923 1397 848872 N/A N/A GCAGAAGGGATGACTA 53 7245 7260 1398 848888 N/A N/A AGCCAGGAAACCGTGG 63 7441 7456 1399 848904 N/A N/A CCCTACTTACAAATTA 40 7756 7771 1400 848266 640 655 AGGCGGCGGGCAGTGC 31 7913 7928 1401 848277 677 692 CTTGGTGAGGTATCCC 65 7950 7965 1402 848292 693 708 GGAAGACATGCAGGAT 64 7966 7981 1403 848920 N/A N/A AGGCAGACCAATGGGT 63 8316 8331 1404 848936 N/A N/A CTAGAAGGTGGTGCAG 0 8619 8634 1405 848952 N/A N/A CCATAGTCAACTGTAC 7 9097 9112 1406 848968 N/A N/A AGCCAATGGGAGGCAC 15 10042 10057 1407 848308 761 776 GGGCAACTTCAAGGCC 7 10522 10537 1408 848984 N/A N/A GGGCAGAGCAAATGGA 0 10691 10706 1409 849000 N/A N/A GTTCACCCCAAGCTCT 29 11420 11435 1410 849016 N/A N/A CTCCACTGAAGAGGTC 66 11870 11885 1411 849032 N/A N/A GATTTAACCCTCCAAA 0 12814 12829 1412 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 86 13108 13123 337 849048 N/A N/A GTTAATAATGCCCCCG 80 13179 13194 1413 849064 N/A N/A GCTGAGTTAGCCCAGG 51 13955 13970 1414 849080 N/A N/A AAACAGTGCTCGCCAC 29 14356 14371 1415 849096 N/A N/A TACAGAGCAATTCAGT 33 14764 14779 1416 849112 N/A N/A TGCCAGGCAGGTCCAG 0 15506 15521 1417 849128 N/A N/A CAATATCTAACAATAA 0 15977 15992 1418 848323 905 920 GTCTAGGAGATACACC 72 16297 16312 1419 848338 988 1003 GTCCCGTCCTCCTCGG 33 16380 16395 1420 849144 N/A N/A AATCAGCAGGTGGCTG 0 16579 16594 1421 848352 1022 1037 ACTGTCACACTTGCTG 45 16652 16667 1422 848367 1072 1087 GCCACGCCGGCATCCC 27 16702 16717 1423 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 2 16705 16720 48 848383 1105 1120 AGCACGCGCAGGCTGC 0 16735 16750 1424 849160 N/A N/A CCACATCTGCCTGGCC 0 17226 17241 1425 849176 N/A N/A TGCCAGGTCATGCAAT 0 17954 17969 1426 849192 N/A N/A GGGATACAGACACCCA 48 18252 18267 1427 849208 N/A N/A CCATACCATAACTCCC 36 19126 19141 1428 849224 N/A N/A CAATTACACCAGCAAT 64 19496 19511 1429 849240 N/A N/A CTGCGAAAATATTTTT 32 19835 19850 1430 848399 1188 1203 CCACAGGCTGGACCAG 8 20019 20034 1431 849256 N/A N/A CCTCAACCGCTCCCAT 15 20631 20646 1432 849272 N/A N/A GAGATAGGAAACTATT 19 21060 21075 1433 848415 1388 1403 GGTCACCGGCTGGTCT 0 21360 21375 1434 848431 1500 1515 TCCCACTCTGTGACAC 93 21472 21487 1435 849288 N/A N/A ACAGACACTAAGCTCT 76 21910 21925 1436 848447 1628 1643 GGCCTCATTGATGACA 0 22121 22136 1437 848463 1734 1749 CTGACCATACAGTCCT 15 22516 22531 1438 848479 1850 1865 CTCCATGCGCTCGCCC 39 22632 22647 1439 849304 N/A N/A CTAGAGATGGCTGAGT 56 22970 22985 1440 849320 N/A N/A ACGGAAATGGGAATCT 0 23457 23472 1441 848493 1990 2005 GTCCCCATGCTGGCCT 33 23610 23625 1442 849336 N/A N/A ATACAGAGATGTTAAG 30 24079 24094 1443 849352 N/A N/A TCTTATTCCAGGCTGG 23 24362 24377 1444 849368 N/A N/A AGCTGACCAGCTGTGT 0 25180 25195 1445 848509 2064 2079 TGCCAAGGTCCTCCAC 18 25395 25410 1446 849384 N/A N/A CAAAAACAGACCCAGC 11 25733 25748 1447 849400 N/A N/A AAATAGATGCTCCAGG 35 26465 26480 1448 849416 N/A N/A CGAGGAAAAGAAAGCA 20 27342 27357 1449 848525 2254 2269 CTGCAGCCAGTCAGGG 1 27397 27412 1450 848541 2494 2509 TCGGAACCATTTTAAA 0 27637 27652 1451 848557 2585 2600 CCCCACTCAAGGGCCA 0 27728 27743 1452 848573 2710 2725 CAGCACCCGAGCACAG 23 27853 27868 1453 848588 2755 2770 AAAAGTCATTCTGCCC 62 27898 27913 1454 848604 2780 2795 GCCTGGCACGGAACAA 55 27923 27938 1455 848620 2909 2924 CTGGAGATGAGGGCCA 24 28052 28067 1456 848635 3021 3036 GCACAGCCTGTGACCA 71 28164 28179 1457 848650 3120 3135 GCCGAGTCAGTCCTAG 23 28263 28278 1458 848666 3150 3165 GCTGAGACAGTGCATG 47 28293 28308 1459 468497 3224 3239 CCTCTGGTTCCAGGTT 77 28367 28382 1460 848697 3257 3272 AGTTCCTGCTGTGTGA 44 28400 28415 1461 848713 3308 3323 AAGTAAGAAGAGGCTT 0 28451 28466 1462 848729 3384 3399 CTCACCGAGCTTCCTG 76 28527 28542 1463 848745 3456 3471 CGCCAGGCCAGTGAAT 44 28599 28614 1464 848760 3565 3580 ACAGAGAGGACAGACC 45 28708 28723 1465 848776 3661 3676 AGTCACCATATTAATA 63 28804 28819 1466

TABLE 20 Inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA by 3-10-3 cEt gapmers targeting SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 SEQ SEQ SEQ SEQ ID: 1 ID: 1 % ID: 2 ID 2: ISIS Start Stop inhi- Start Stop SEQ No Site Site Sequence bition Site Site ID NO 848432 1535 1550 TGCAATGCCAGCCACG 0 N/A N/A 1467 848220 184 199 AGCCGCTGCTGCAACG 57 3659 3674 1468 848236 381 396 GCCACCAGGACCGCCT 28 3856 3871 1469 848252 492 507 CCTCGGAACGCAAGGC 38 3967 3982 1470 848793 N/A N/A AGCATGAGTTCTGTGT 43 4607 4622 1471 848809 N/A N/A CAGCACACTCAGACAG 47 5288 5303 1472 848825 N/A N/A AAAAGGATTGGTCTAA 0 5652 5667 1473 848841 N/A N/A CCCTTTACCCAAAGCC 71 6525 6540 1474 848857 N/A N/A AATCAGCCTTCAAGGG 39 6928 6943 1475 848873 N/A N/A GGCAGAAGGGATGACT 35 7246 7261 1476 848889 N/A N/A TCGACAACAGGTTTTC 58 7576 7591 1477 848905 N/A N/A TGACATGGAAGAAACC 34 7801 7816 1478 848267 642 657 GCAGGCGGCGGGCAGT 0 7915 7930 1479 848278 678 693 TCTTGGTGAGGTATCC 52 7951 7966 1480 848293 694 709 TGGAAGACATGCAGGA 26 7967 7982 1481 848921 N/A N/A TGCATTGGCACAAGAA 44 8340 8355 1482 848937 N/A N/A AGTTAGAGGCCAGGAA 25 8645 8660 1483 848953 N/A N/A TCCCATAGTCAACTGT 11 9099 9114 1484 848969 N/A N/A TTGCAAAGCTTCCAGT 7 10065 10080 1485 468446 775 790 ATGTAGTCGACATGGG 38 10536 10551 1486 848985 N/A N/A CGAGAAGTGGAAACCA 0 10727 10742 1487 849001 N/A N/A GTGAAAGCTGAGTTCA 6 11431 11446 1488 849017 N/A N/A GGGTGGTAATTTGTCA 15 12045 12060 1489 849033 N/A N/A AATAACTGATTTAACC 12 12821 12836 1490 849044 N/A N/A GGATACACAGGCTCGC 82 13108 13123 337 849049 N/A N/A GTTCATTCCACTGCTT 30 13216 13231 1491 849065 N/A N/A CAACGCACATCGAGCA 39 14038 14053 1492 849081 N/A N/A ACCAAACAGTGCTCGC 48 14359 14374 1493 849097 N/A N/A AATAAGGTCTGGCTCA 43 14829 14844 1494 849113 N/A N/A ACAGATGCCAGGCAGG 10 15511 15526 1495 849129 N/A N/A TCAATATCTAACAATA 0 15978 15993 1496 848324 917 932 CTGTATGCTGGTGTCT 0 16309 16324 1497 848339 989 1004 GGTCCCGTCCTCCTCG 0 16381 16396 1498 849145 N/A N/A CATGAGAAAGACCCCC 0 16611 16626 1499 848353 1024 1039 TGACTGTCACACTTGC 56 16654 16669 1500 848368 1073 1088 GGCCACGCCGGCATCC 0 16703 16718 1501 468460 1075 1090 TTGGCCACGCCGGCAT 0 16705 16720 48 848384 1109 1124 GTTGAGCACGCGCAGG 58 16739 16754 1502 849161 N/A N/A CTCCACCACATCTGCC 30 17231 17246 1503 849177 N/A N/A CGTGCCAGGTCATGCA 74 17956 17971 1504 849193 N/A N/A TGGGATACAGACACCC 5 18253 18268 1505 849209 N/A N/A TAAAAGACTCCATGCC 0 19151 19166 1506 849225 N/A N/A GCAATTACACCAGCAA 84 19497 19512 1507 849241 N/A N/A GCACAGAGTGATGGTT 66 19908 19923 1508 848400 1190 1205 CCCCACAGGCTGGACC 34 20021 20036 1509 849257 N/A N/A CTGCACCGGGCATGCG 0 20686 20701 1510 849273 N/A N/A CCCTACCATAGCCAGG 36 21118 21133 1511 848416 1394 1409 CCCCAGGGTCACCGGC 38 21366 21381 1512 849289 N/A N/A GCACACAGACACTAAG 0 21914 21929 1513 848448 1633 1648 AACCAGGCCTCATTGA 0 22126 22141 1514 848464 1735 1750 GCTGACCATACAGTCC 9 22517 22532 1515 849305 N/A N/A CTATCCTGTAGCATCA 73 23060 23075 1516 849321 N/A N/A GACGGAAATGGGAATC 0 23458 23473 1517 848480 1875 1890 GGCAGACCAGCTTGCC 0 23495 23510 1518 848494 1991 2006 GGTCCCCATGCTGGCC 0 23611 23626 1519 849337 N/A N/A TAGCACTCATCATTTC 33 24098 24113 1520 849353 N/A N/A GACGAGAATCAACTCT 6 24383 24398 1521 849369 N/A N/A CACCAGGACTCCTGTG 4 25209 25224 1522 848510 2074 2089 GGCTTGTGGGTGCCAA 15 25405 25420 1523 849385 N/A N/A CTCCAAGTGGAGTGGG 0 25786 25801 1524 849401 N/A N/A ACTAAAATAGATGCTC 34 26469 26484 1525 849417 N/A N/A TGCCAGAGCCCGAGGA 0 27352 27367 1526 848526 2259 2274 GGGCACTGCAGCCAGT 0 27402 27417 1527 848542 2500 2515 GACAAGTCGGAACCAT 77 27643 27658 1528 848558 2598 2613 GGCAAGGAGGCTGCCC 0 27741 27756 1529 848574 2711 2726 GCAGCACCCGAGCACA 70 27854 27869 1530 848589 2756 2771 TAAAAGTCATTCTGCC 56 27899 27914 1531 848605 2781 2796 TGCCTGGCACGGAACA 44 27924 27939 1532 848621 2915 2930 AGTTAGCTGGAGATGA 0 28058 28073 1533 848636 3027 3042 ACCAAGGCACAGCCTG 70 28170 28185 1534 848651 3121 3136 TGCCGAGTCAGTCCTA 69 28264 28279 1535 848667 3163 3178 GTGGAGCGGGTTGGCT 26 28306 28321 1536 848682 3225 3240 CCCTCTGGTTCCAGGT 23 28368 28383 1537 848698 3259 3274 TCAGTTCCTGCTGTGT 30 28402 28417 1538 848714 3311 3326 GTGAAGTAAGAAGAGG 47 28454 28469 1539 848730 3385 3400 ACTCACCGAGCTTCCT 63 28528 28543 1540 848746 3469 3484 TTAGAAGCATCTCCGC 44 28612 28627 1541 848761 3569 3584 GGCAACAGAGAGGACA 79 28712 28727 1542 848777 3666 3681 TAAAAAGTCACCATAT 9 28809 28824 1543

Example 2: Dose-Dependent Antisense Inhibition of Human PCSK9 in HepG2 Cells by 3-10-3 cEt Gapmers

Select gapmers from Example 1 exhibiting in vitro inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA were tested at various doses in HepG2 cells. The antisense oligonucleotides were tested in a series of experiments that had similar culture conditions. The results for each experiment are presented in separate tables shown below.

Study 1

Cells were plated at a density of 20,000 cells per well and transfected using electroporation with 46.88 nM, 187.5 nM, 750 nM, and 3,000 nM concentrations of antisense oligonucleotide, as specified in the Tables below. ISIS 405879, previously disclosed in WO2008066776 was also included in the study as a benchmark oligonucleotide. After a treatment period of approximately 16 hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and PCSK9 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Human PCSK9 primer probe set from ABI (ID# Hs03037355_m1) was used to measure mRNA levels. PCSK9 mRNA levels were adjusted according to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results are presented as percent inhibition of PCSK9, relative to untreated control cells.

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each oligonucleotide is also presented. PCSK9 mRNA levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner in antisense oligonucleotide treated cells. Several of the newly designed antisense oligonucleotides demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the previously disclosed oligonucleotide, ISIS 405879. Specifically, ISIS 848542, ISIS 848593, ISIS 848597, ISIS 848598, ISIS 848630, ISIS 848833, ISIS 849040, ISIS 849171, and ISIS 849236 demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the previously disclosed oligonucleotide, ISIS 405879.

TABLE 21 46.875 187.5 750 3,000 IC₅₀ ISIS No nM nM nM nM (μM) 405879 13 6 3 29 >3.00 466847 1 19 65 94 0.47 468497 12 27 60 83 0.48 848219 0 0 54 88 0.91 848241 0 5 31 63 1.78 848283 18 27 54 85 0.48 848306 0 19 53 91 0.62 848323 0 0 0 50 >3.00 848376 0 3 12 43 >3.00 848430 0 30 52 81 0.62 848431 67 79 92 96 <0.05 848500 6 30 55 82 0.54 848539 0 0 0 55 >3.00 848542 10 30 66 86 0.41 848560 12 32 76 91 0.33 848567 0 1 42 89 0.85 848570 23 27 67 87 0.35 848572 18 44 71 81 0.30 848574 0 5 68 95 0.55 848575 0 17 51 80 0.75 848576 11 18 45 74 0.86 848583 3 18 62 88 0.52 848584 0 22 54 89 0.57 848585 1 22 67 92 0.45 848593 0 25 53 83 0.63 848596 18 40 76 93 0.26 848597 22 42 78 87 0.24 848598 0 18 62 95 0.53 848616 0 14 55 88 0.66 848618 0 0 56 77 0.96 848619 3 7 41 74 1.07 848629 21 34 78 78 0.31 848630 7 22 65 83 0.50 848632 25 34 68 89 0.29 848635 0 0 49 83 0.92 848636 5 34 77 76 0.42 848649 5 10 43 78 0.89 848651 4 0 48 88 0.88 848652 0 6 28 80 1.16 848656 1 13 52 80 0.73 848670 0 38 84 85 0.39 848671 26 28 70 81 0.34 848672 0 11 27 73 1.37 848674 36 31 69 89 0.24 848677 2 32 69 90 0.41 848679 0 11 55 81 0.73 848680 11 20 64 81 0.52 848685 0 14 33 62 1.63 848687 0 25 63 90 0.51 848688 0 23 61 89 0.55 848690 15 21 78 84 0.39 848692 31 45 80 97 0.17 848693 8 23 69 88 0.44 848694 27 43 75 93 0.21 848701 0 10 39 77 1.02 848704 11 5 43 78 0.94 848725 0 9 51 81 0.79 848729 26 33 63 92 0.30 848731 0 15 60 89 0.55 848732 12 71 67 90 0.21 848736 6 18 40 73 1.00 848740 2 18 59 86 0.57 848748 9 42 60 85 0.39 848756 3 1 55 85 0.72 848759 18 37 75 94 0.28 848761 20 35 68 81 0.35 848764 0 8 37 64 1.52 848770 0 4 63 90 0.63 848771 3 23 57 93 0.50 848772 15 32 66 82 0.40 848774 0 8 64 90 0.61 848790 0 0 33 73 1.49 848795 9 42 62 91 0.35 848811 7 5 46 86 0.75 848814 17 20 64 89 0.43 848826 7 57 77 93 0.24 848830 0 35 45 86 0.62 848832 0 40 71 78 0.52 848833 19 43 68 81 0.32 848838 0 36 72 89 0.39 848841 5 24 62 86 0.50 848844 0 22 61 89 0.53 848849 9 48 79 92 0.26 848850 0 38 68 97 0.43 848854 2 7 58 84 0.66 848875 3 17 58 79 0.65 848890 0 6 27 65 1.74 848898 7 14 79 87 0.43 848927 12 25 75 95 0.35 848928 0 0 45 78 1.01 848971 0 21 54 82 0.65 848999 6 29 34 64 1.38 849007 0 4 41 78 1.02 849008 0 39 74 90 0.42 849013 4 17 47 86 0.67 849016 0 23 56 79 0.65 849020 0 13 40 67 1.28 849021 10 34 65 80 0.44 849030 2 28 58 86 0.52 849036 2 1 37 76 1.16 849040 28 55 79 96 0.15 849044 26 39 72 91 0.28 849048 0 30 60 79 0.61 849069 12 12 40 74 1.02 849071 2 31 65 92 0.42 849084 0 0 0 43 >3.00 849085 20 39 64 89 0.31 849086 13 40 69 81 0.36 849106 20 24 55 80 0.53 849120 0 15 61 80 0.64 849123 9 48 82 84 0.27 849133 0 0 29 70 1.62 849135 25 54 79 95 0.17 849162 0 4 35 75 1.19 849169 34 63 72 83 0.12 849171 9 60 63 83 0.30 849177 0 16 69 75 0.68 849178 0 22 53 83 0.65 849181 6 8 39 84 0.86 849189 24 44 81 90 0.21 849200 0 0 34 70 1.48 849205 7 29 51 88 0.52 849216 0 15 28 66 1.66 849225 23 47 78 94 0.21 849227 7 35 74 94 0.34 849233 9 42 68 93 0.32 849236 0 1 57 88 0.73 849239 18 38 74 86 0.30 849266 0 22 66 86 0.51 849267 18 69 72 94 0.17 849285 3 18 45 84 0.71 849288 0 0 0 52 >3.00 849303 18 33 57 72 0.54 849305 25 28 62 82 0.40 849309 10 18 59 82 0.57 849331 0 10 65 93 0.57 849332 0 0 48 76 1.09 849345 0 0 62 80 0.78 849354 0 0 43 64 1.49 849357 5 21 45 75 0.84 849358 0 10 45 79 0.88 849359 3 22 46 88 0.62 849372 0 15 29 82 1.04 849383 2 0 33 71 1.43 849386 11 18 51 84 0.60 Study 2

Cells were plated at a density of 20,000 cells per well and transfected using electroporation with 78.13 nM, 312.5 nM, 1,250 nM, and 5,000 nM concentrations of antisense oligonucleotide, as specified in the Tables below. ISIS 431131, previously disclosed in WO2014179620, was also included in the study as a benchmark oligonucleotide. After a treatment period of approximately 16 hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and PCSK9 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Human PCSK9 primer probe set from ABI (ID# Hs03037355_m1) was used to measure mRNA levels. PCSK9 mRNA levels were adjusted according to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results are presented as percent inhibition of PCSK9, relative to untreated control cells.

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each oligonucleotide is also presented. PCSK9 mRNA levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner in antisense oligonucleotide treated cells. Several of the newly designed antisense oligonucleotides demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the previously disclosed oligonucleotide, ISIS 431131.

TABLE 22 78.125 312.5 1,250 5,000 IC₅₀ ISIS No nM nM nM nM (μM) 431131 18 16 30 55 >5 849169 23 57 86 92 0.28 859341 24 48 69 85 1.54 859346 27 54 80 94 0.27 859358 0 30 69 89 0.76 859361 28 53 73 94 0.30 859363 38 50 79 82 0.20 859384 19 59 76 94 0.30 859387 36 66 79 96 0.16 859392 14 33 63 81 0.96 859393 20 59 90 96 0.27 859394 43 65 80 96 0.12 859395 37 51 82 91 0.21 859401 27 64 88 94 0.20 859408 0 59 61 92 0.55 859419 22 58 77 84 0.31 859459 33 55 91 93 0.19 859462 31 56 78 96 0.24 859469 26 48 76 83 0.36 859472 19 35 67 87 0.56 859504 19 47 59 80 0.57 859529 19 50 88 94 0.32 859531 33 52 76 69 0.29 859532 24 55 79 90 0.30 859533 9 40 77 91 0.51 859534 25 49 85 85 0.70 859551 25 41 51 78 0.69 859552 0 17 53 78 1.36 859553 24 45 79 94 0.35 859561 28 54 71 92 0.30 859571 35 34 76 73 0.43 859584 19 51 85 95 0.32 859598 33 55 73 83 0.25 859601 23 39 63 90 0.50 859603 0 6 70 71 1.25 859605 9 42 67 83 0.62 859611 21 22 47 76 1.16

Example 3: Tolerability of 3′-Conjugated 3-10-3 cEt Gapmers Targeting Human PCSK9 in BALB/c Mice

ISIS oligonucleotides selected from the studies above were conjugated with 3′-THA-C6-GalNAc3-(3R,5S)-5-(hydroxymethyl) pyrrolidin-3-ol phosphate endcap (henceforth referred to as 3′-THA). The hundred and sixty two 3′-THA-conjugated ISIS antisense oligonucleotides evaluated for changes in the levels of plasma chemistry markers are presented in the Table below. ‘Parent Oligo’ indicates the ISIS oligonucleotide that has been described in the studies above and that was conjugated with 3′-THA and tested in this study.

TABLE 23 3′-conjugated 3-10-3 cEt gapmers selected for tolerability evaluation in BALB/c mice Parent SEQ ID ISIS No Oligo NO 863413 466847 1096 863415 848219 1390 863416 848241 777 863418 848306 1236 863419 848323 1419 863421 848430 1357 863422 848431 1435 863423 848500 905 863424 848539 1297 863425 848542 1528 863426 848560 607 863427 848567 1145 863428 848570 451 863429 848572 1375 863433 848583 1223 863434 848584 377 863435 848585 452 863436 848593 763 863437 848596 994 863438 848597 1071 863439 848598 1147 863440 848616 379 863441 848618 1302 863442 848619 1378 863443 848629 1073 863444 848630 1149 863445 848632 455 863446 848635 1457 863447 848636 1534 863448 848649 1380 863449 848651 1535 863451 848656 844 863452 848670 691 863453 848671 768 863457 848679 458 863458 848680 1306 863464 848693 384 863465 848694 459 863468 848725 386 863472 848736 926 863473 848740 1233 863474 848748 619 863475 848756 388 863476 848759 1387 863477 848761 1542 863478 848764 697 863479 848770 1158 863480 848771 1235 863481 848772 389 863482 848774 1312 863483 848790 1240 863484 848795 549 863485 848811 550 863486 848814 781 863487 848826 474 863488 848830 782 863489 848832 939 863490 848833 1016 863491 848838 1243 863492 848841 1474 863493 848844 629 863494 848849 1017 863495 848850 1092 863496 848854 1244 863497 848875 554 863498 848890 478 863499 848898 1094 863500 848927 871 863501 848928 947 863502 848971 563 863503 848999 1332 863504 849007 877 863505 849008 953 863506 849013 410 863507 849016 1411 863508 849020 644 863509 849021 721 863510 849030 1258 863511 849036 645 863512 849040 955 863513 849044 337 863514 849048 1413 863515 849069 724 863516 849071 881 863517 849084 648 863518 849085 725 863519 849086 802 863520 849106 1111 863521 849120 960 863522 849123 1188 863523 849133 728 863524 849135 885 863525 849162 504 863526 849169 1043 863527 849171 1195 863531 849189 426 863532 849200 968 863533 849205 427 863535 849225 1507 863536 849227 585 863537 849233 1047 863538 849236 353 863539 849239 1352 863540 849266 1126 863541 849267 1203 863542 849285 434 863543 849288 1436 863544 849303 1362 863545 849305 1516 863546 849309 749 863547 849331 1213 863548 849332 367 863549 849345 1061 863550 849354 523 863551 849357 754 863552 849358 831 863553 849359 908 863554 849372 678 863555 849383 1369 863556 849386 526 884269 859561 55 884270 859459 180 884271 859395 164 884272 859603 218 884273 859504 284 884274 859394 87 884275 859598 141 884276 859531 198 884277 859469 28 884278 859346 152 884279 859361 79 884280 859472 276

BALB/c mice are a multipurpose mice model, frequently utilized for safety and efficacy testing. The mice were administered a single dose of oligonucleotide. Plasma levels of transaminases were measured using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer (Hitachi Olympus AU400e, Melville, N.Y.). ISIS oligonucleotides that caused changes in the levels of ALT and/or AST outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides were excluded in further studies. ISIS 863413, ISIS 863419, ISIS 863424, ISIS 863425, ISIS 863427, ISIS 863433, ISIS 863434, ISIS 863436, ISIS 863437, ISIS 863438, ISIS 863439, ISIS 863441, ISIS 863444, ISIS 863445, ISIS 863448, ISIS 863452, ISIS 863472, ISIS 863473, ISIS 863474, ISIS 863475, ISIS 863477, ISIS 863479, ISIS 863480, ISIS 863481, ISIS 863482, ISIS 863483, ISIS 863484, ISIS 863485, ISIS 863486, ISIS 863489, ISIS 863490, ISIS 863491, ISIS 863493, ISIS 863494, ISIS 863495, ISIS 863496, ISIS 863497, ISIS 863498, ISIS 863499, ISIS 863502, ISIS 863506, ISIS 863507, ISIS 863509, ISIS 863510, ISIS 863511, ISIS 863512, ISIS 863514, ISIS 863516, ISIS 863517, ISIS 863518, ISIS 863520, ISIS 863522, ISIS 863524, ISIS 863525, ISIS 863526, ISIS 863527, ISIS 863531, ISIS 863533, ISIS 863536, ISIS 863537, ISIS 863538, ISIS 863539, ISIS 863541, ISIS 863545, ISIS 863547, ISIS 863548, ISIS 863549, ISIS 863550, ISIS 863552, and ISIS 863553 were considered tolerable in this study and were selected for further evaluation.

Example 4: Effect of Antisense Inhibition of PCSK9 in Transgenic Mouse Model

A transgenic mouse model was developed at UCI using the human PCSK9 genomic construct, which was contained in fosmid ABC7-611722G24 and restricted with Nhe1 to produce a DNA fragment containing the entire genomic sequence as well as 8 Kb of 5′ and 0.4 Kb of 3′ noncoding sequence. PCSK9 transgenic mice were produced by random insertion via micronucleus injection. Progeny expressed human PCSK9 mRNA in the liver and secreted human PCSK9 plasma protein.

The efficacy of 3′-THA-conjugated ISIS oligonucleotides was evaluated in this model (referred to herein as Tg mice). The ISIS oligonucleotides tested are presented in the Table below. ‘Parent ISIS No’ indicates the ISIS oligonucleotide that has been described in the studies above and that was conjugated with 3′-THA and tested in this study.

TABLE 24 ISIS oligonucleotides tested in Tg mice Parent SEQ ISIS No Sequence ISIS No ID NO 863413 GAGGTATCCCCGGCGG 466847 1096 863419 GTCTAGGAGATACACC 848323 1419 863424 CATTTTAAAGCTCAGC 848539 1297 863425 GACAAGTCGGAACCAT 848542 1528 863427 TTGAATGGTGAAATGC 848567 1145 863433 GGACATCGGCACATTG 848583 1223 863434 ACGGACATCGGCACAT 848584  377 863436 AGCTCAATAAAAGTCA 848593  763 863437 CGGAACAAGAGCTCAA 848596  994 863438 ACGGAACAAGAGCTCA 848597 1071 863439 CACGGAACAAGAGCTC 848598 1147 863441 GATGAGGGCCATCAGC 848618 1302 863444 CAGAAAGCTAAGCCTC 848630 1149 863445 CTAGATGCCATCCAGA 848632  455 863448 TCCTAGGTGATGGCTC 848649 1380 863452 GCGAATGTGTACCCTG 848670  691 863472 GGAAAAAGTTCCATGC 848736  926 863473 GTGATAACGGAAAAAG 848740 1233 863474 TGCCTTAGAAGCATCT 848748  619 863475 AAAGATAAATGTCTGC 848756  388 863477 GGCAACAGAGAGGACA 848761 1542 863479 AGCAAAACAGGTCTAG 848770 1158 863480 TTCAAGTTACAAAAGC 848771 1235 863481 CCCAGAATAAATATCT 848772  389 863482 TGCTACAAAACCCAGA 848774 1312 863483 CCAAATCGGAACCCAC 848790 1240 863484 CGAGAATACCTCCGCC 848795  549 863485 GCTGAGTAAGGACTTG 848811  550 863486 AGAAAGTCAAAGGCTC 848814  781 863489 TACATTTCAGACGGTG 848832  939 863490 AATAATCTCATGTCAG 848833 1016 863491 AGGCAGTAATGGGCAA 848838 1243 863493 TCATGAATCAAGTCCA 848844  629 863494 CAAATTATAGCAGCCA 848849 1017 863495 AACAAATTATAGCAGC 848850 1092 863496 TCCAACACTGAGGACC 848854 1244 863497 CTACAAATGCAGGCAG 848875  554 863498 CTCGACAACAGGTTTT 848890  478 863499 ACCAAATGCGGACCAA 848898 1094 863502 GCAATTCGGTTTGTCC 848971  563 863506 GGAAAGGAACAGGCTC 849013  410 863507 CTCCACTGAAGAGGTC 849016 1411 863509 GACAATGAAGAGGAGA 849021  721 863510 GTTAAGAGTGCAGGGT 849030 1258 863511 ACAGAGAAATGCATGC 849036  645 863512 GTTATTATTGAATGGT 849040  955 863514 GTTAATAATGCCCCCG 849048 1413 863516 ACAACTGGATACATTG 849071  881 863517 CAATAGGCATCTACCA 849084  648 863518 ACTCATCAATAGGCAT 849085  725 863520 CCTCAGGTGGAATCAG 849106 1111 863522 GGAGAATAACAGTGAT 849123 1188 863524 ATAGACAAGGAAAGGG 849135  885 863525 GTCTAGAAAAAGTCCT 849162  504 863526 AGGAAAGTCTCAGGGC 849169 1043 863527 CTGTAGGAAAGTCTCA 849171 1195 863531 ACAGCTGCTAGTTATT 849189  426 863533 TGCTACTGTCAACAGT 849205  427 863536 GGAAGATATTAGCAAT 849227  585 863537 GCGGATTTCAGACTTG 849233 1047 863538 CAACATCAAATTCTGC 849236  353 863539 GAAGACGGAGTAAGGC 849239 1352 863541 TTCTAAGTGCCACGGG 849267 1203 863545 CTATCCTGTAGCATCA 849305 1516 863547 GGAGAAGTAAGGTCAC 849331 1213 863548 AGGAGAAGTAAGGTCA 849332  367 863549 ATTTTAAAGCAACGGG 849345 1061 863550 CCTACATGCCAGCCTG 849354  523 863552 TCTGAACATGGTAGGG 849358  831 863553 GTAAGATGGAAAGAGA 849359  908 Treatment

PCSK9 transgenic mice were maintained on a 12-hour light/dark cycle and were fed ad libitum normal Purina mouse chow. Animals were acclimated for at least 7 days in the research facility before initiation of the experiment. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) were prepared in buffered saline (PBS) and sterilized by filtering through a 0.2 micron filter. Oligonucleotides were dissolved in 0.9% PBS for injection.

The PCSK9 transgenic mice received subcutaneous injections of ISIS oligonucleotide at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg twice per week for 2 weeks. Two groups of mice received subcutaneous injections of PBS for 2 weeks. The saline-injected groups served as the control group to which oligonucleotide-treated groups were compared.

Plasma Chemistry Markers

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on liver and kidney function of these mice, plasma levels of transaminases (ALT and AST), cholesterol (CHOL), HDL cholesterol (HDL), LDL cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides (TRIG) were measured on day 12 using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer (Hitachi Olympus AU400e, Melville, N.Y.). The results are presented in the Table below. ISIS oligonucleotides that caused changes in the levels of any of the liver or kidney function markers outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides were excluded in further studies.

TABLE 25 Plasma chemistry markers in Tg mice plasma ALT AST CHOL HDL LDL TRIG Treatment (IU/L) (IU/L) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) PBS 17 37 114 73 35 65 PBS 23 102 105 68 32 76 863413 19 72 122 88 24 89 863419 15 44 115 73 31 104 863424 18 34 197 112 79 105 863425 25 53 143 101 36 104 863427 22 96 113 75 28 127 863433 17 54 92 67 19 61 863434 24 36 132 98 35 102 863436 17 50 124 81 31 96 863437 21 69 126 91 30 81 863438 18 66 57 39 15 54 863439 42 173 111 78 22 107 863441 20 57 84 58 20 56 863444 19 41 149 101 42 116 863445 20 36 169 111 48 111 863448 24 44 107 69 29 79 863452 20 67 114 78 23 100 863472 35 55 105 71 26 89 863473 23 67 152 105 38 130 863474 21 115 118 78 32 45 863475 23 87 179 112 62 92 863477 67 142 222 137 73 69 863479 29 60 142 96 32 90 863480 19 52 122 88 25 53 863481 28 50 223 132 70 115 863482 20 43 168 105 46 129 863483 19 34 174 110 47 139 863484 25 71 64 38 21 66 863485 19 71 170 113 42 110 863486 18 40 117 78 28 121 863489 38 68 90 66 18 89 863490 19 41 99 71 19 113 863491 20 40 148 99 35 146 863493 18 74 107 73 26 59 863494 19 41 149 106 32 104 863495 17 34 136 95 32 116 863496 545 275 136 97 31 29 863497 36 49 121 84 28 53 863498 23 44 181 122 42 98 863499 21 51 128 102 18 58 863502 34 144 116 84 22 86 863506 30 44 188 119 51 108 863507 19 46 108 78 18 100 863509 23 63 121 80 28 115 863510 40 71 149 111 28 51 863511 31 61 101 70 23 83 863512 21 52 83 59 14 103 863514 22 65 99 69 23 64 863516 18 52 117 73 33 122 863517 25 98 113 74 27 125 863518 35 116 96 65 23 70 863520 21 102 107 68 31 76 863522 31 55 89 56 24 77 863524 49 61 154 104 43 94 863525 20 58 208 116 66 155 863526 32 82 159 114 37 59 863527 25 112 98 66 23 101 863531 835 454 268 149 67 84 863533 0 109 276 152 80 98 863536 22 68 120 75 28 181 863537 29 102 134 97 27 52 863538 16 42 126 76 39 89 863539 22 53 100 65 25 64 863541 19 41 98 66 23 115 863545 28 53 109 73 25 114 863547 22 41 119 80 30 71 863548 550 433 188 125 33 60 863549 17 36 109 70 33 72 863550 32 62 158 98 43 77 863552 18 55 113 71 33 79 863553 18 43 103 62 30 86

Example 5: Tolerability of ISIS Oligonucleotides Targeting Human PCSK9 in CD1 Mice

ISIS oligonucleotides selected from the studies above were conjugated with 5′-Trishexylamino-(THA)-C6GalNAC3 endcap (henceforth referred to as 5′-THA). CD1® mice (Charles River, Mass.) are a multipurpose mice model, frequently utilized for safety and efficacy testing. The mice were treated with ISIS antisense oligonucleotides, selected from studies described above and conjugated with 5′-THA, and evaluated for changes in the levels of various plasma chemistry markers.

Study 1

Treatment

Groups of male CD1 mice were injected subcutaneously once a week for 6 weeks with 15 mg/kg of ISIS oligonucleotides. One group of male CD1 mice was injected subcutaneously once a week for 6 weeks with PBS. Mice were euthanized 48 hours after the last dose, and organs and plasma were harvested for further analysis.

The ISIS oligonucleotides tested are presented in the Table below. ‘Unconjugated parent ISIS No.’ refers to the ISIS oligonucleotide described in the in vitro studies above with the same sequence. ‘3′-THA counterpart ISIS No.’ refers to the 3′THA conjugated oligonucleotide with the same sequence and evaluated in the transgenic mice study above.

TABLE 26 ISIS oligonucleotides tested in CD1 mice tolerability study Uncon- jugated 3′-THA parent counter- SEQ ISIS ISIS part ID No. No. ISIS No Sequence NO 863576 848583 863433 GGACATCGGCACATTG 1223 863633 848833 863490 AATAATCTCATGTCAG 1016 863655 849040 863512 GTTATTATTGAATGGT  955 863670 849171 863527 CTGTAGGAAAGTCTCA 1195 863681 849236 863538 CAACATCAAATTCTGC  353 Plasma Chemistry Markers

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on liver and kidney function, plasma levels of transaminases, bilirubin, creatinine, and BUN were measured using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer (Hitachi Olympus AU400e, Melville, N.Y.). The results are presented in the Table below. Treatment with the ISIS oligonucleotides did not cause any changes in the levels of any of the liver or kidney function markers outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides.

TABLE 27 Plasma chemistry markers in CD1 mice plasma at Day 45 ALT AST ALB BUN CRE TBIL (IU/L) (IU/L) (g/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) PBS 25 41 2.6 20.1 0.07 0.13 ISIS 863576 125 134 2.8 24.5 0.10 0.14 ISIS 863633 35 60 2.6 21.8 0.10 0.14 ISIS 863655 77 84 2.4 20.0 0.06 0.13 ISIS 863670 25 61 2.7 22.5 0.09 0.15 ISIS 863681 27 47 2.8 26.5 0.12 0.14 Hematology Assays

Blood obtained from all mice groups were analyzed for RBC, WBC, platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocyte counts, as well as hemoglobin, HCT and MCV levels. The results are presented in the Table below. Treatment with the ISIS oligonucleotides did not cause any changes in the levels of any of the hematology markers outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides.

TABLE 28 Blood cell count in CD1 mice at Day 45 RBC Platelets WBC Neutrophils Lymphocytes Monocytes (×10⁶/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) PBS 9.0 1288 11.3 12.6 9128 515 863576 8.3 1251 9.4 18.8 6643 316 863633 9.4 1338 10.1 13.5 8009 698 863655 8.9 1320 8.0 10.0 5919 473 863670 9.7 1335 8.3 21.3 6514 402 863681 9.5 1329 7.6 11.0 6376 310

TABLE 29 Hematology markers in CD1 mice at Day 45 Hemoglobin HCT MCV (g/dL) (%) (fL) PBS 14.0 43 48 863576 12.9 40 48 863633 14.6 45 49 863655 14.1 44 50 863670 14.7 44 46 863681 14.6 45 47 Body and Organ Weight Measurements

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on the overall health of the animals, body and organ weights were measured. Body weights were measured every week and are presented in the Table below. Organ weights were measured and the data is also presented in the Table below. The results indicate that effect of treatment with antisense oligonucleotides on body and organ weights was within the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides.

TABLE 30 Body weights (g) in CD1 mice Baseline Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 (day 1) (day 8) (day 15) (day 22) (day 29) (day 36) (day 43) PBS 46 48 49 48 50 49 49 863576 29 33 35 36 38 38 39 863633 27 32 33 34 36 37 39 863655 28 33 33 35 37 38 39 863670 27 31 32 33 36 36 38 863681 28 33 33 35 37 38 40

TABLE 31 Organ weights (g) in CD1 mice Liver Spleen Kidney PBS 2.25 0.16 0.63 863576 2.32 0.19 0.59 863633 2.25 0.11 0.50 863655 2.55 0.15 0.61 863670 1.89 0.11 0.51 863681 2.25 0.10 0.47 Study 2 Treatment

Groups of male CD1 mice were injected subcutaneously once a week for 6 weeks with 15 mg/kg of ISIS oligonucleotides. One group of male CD1 mice was injected subcutaneously once a week for 6 weeks with PBS. Mice were euthanized 48 hours after the last dose, and organs and plasma were harvested for further analysis.

The ISIS oligonucleotides tested are presented in the Table below. ‘Unconjugated parent ISIS No.’ refers to the ISIS oligonucleotide described in the in vitro studies above with the same sequence. ‘3′-THA counterpart ISIS No.’ refers to the 3′THA conjugated oligonucleotide with the same sequence and described in the transgenic mice study above.

TABLE 32 ISIS oligonucleotides tested in CD1 mice tolerability study Uncon- jugated 3′-THA parent counter- SEQ ISIS ISIS part ID No. No. ISIS No Sequence NO 863568 848542 863425 GACAAGTCGGAACCAT 1528 863581 848597 863438 ACGGAACAAGAGCTCA 1071 863582 848598 863439 CACGGAACAAGAGCTC 1147 863587 848630 863444 CAGAAAGCTAAGCCTC 1149 Plasma Chemistry Markers

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on liver and kidney function, plasma levels of transaminases, bilirubin, creatinine, and BUN were measured using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer (Hitachi Olympus AU400e, Melville, N.Y.).

The results are presented in the Table below. Treatment with the ISIS oligonucleotides did not cause any changes in the levels of any of the liver or kidney function markers outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides.

TABLE 33 Plasma chemistry markers in CD1 mice plasma at Day 45 ALT AST ALB BUN CRE TBIL (IU/L) (IU/L) (g/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) PBS 25 51 2.6 25.8 0.10 0.12 ISIS 863568 72 67 2.6 20.4 0.10 0.14 ISIS 863581 74 77 2.7 25.0 0.10 0.14 ISIS 863582 71 89 2.8 24.4 0.11 0.13 ISIS 863587 60 60 2.5 24.6 0.11 0.10 Hematology Assays

Blood obtained from all mice groups were analyzed for RBC, WBC, platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocyte counts, as well as hemoglobin, HCT and MCV levels. The results are presented in the Table below. Treatment with the ISIS oligonucleotides did not cause any changes in the levels of any of the hematology markers outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides.

TABLE 34 Blood cell count in CD1 mice at Day 45 RBC Platelets WBC Neutrophils Lymphocytes Monocytes (×10⁶/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) PBS 9.6 853 3.9 12 3174 129 863568 10.3 859 7.8 15 6060 347 863581 9.4 812 8.0 17 6162 359 863582 9.1 868 10.5 21 6671 713 863587 9.6 903 9.8 10 8233 344

TABLE 35 Hematology markers in CD1 mice at Day 45 Hemoglobin HCT MCV (g/dL) (%) (fL) PBS 14.5 44 46 863568 16.2 47 46 863581 14.5 43 46 863582 13.5 41 45 863587 15.0 45 47 Body and Organ Weight Measurements

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on the overall health of the animals, body and organ weights were measured. Body weights were measured every week and are presented in the Table below. Organ weights were measured and the data is also presented in the Table below. The results indicate that effect of treatment with antisense oligonucleotides on body and organ weights was within the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides.

TABLE 36 Body weights (g) in CD1 mice Baseline Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 (day 1) (day 9) (day 16) (day 23) (day 30) (day 37) (day 43) PBS 30 33 36 36 37 39 39 863568 29 32 34 34 36 39 38 863581 29 33 35 36 36 39 39 863582 31 34 36 36 37 40 41 863587 30 35 37 37 39 41 43

TABLE 37 Organ weights (g) in CD1 mice Liver Spleen Kidney PBS 2.06 0.11 0.59 863568 2.46 0.10 0.54 863581 2.23 0.13 0.56 863582 2.52 0.16 0.63 863587 2.94 0.16 0.64 Study 3 Treatment

Groups of male CD1 mice were injected subcutaneously once a week for 6 weeks with 5 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg of ISIS oligonucleotides. One group of male CD1 mice was injected subcutaneously once a week for 6 weeks with PBS. Mice were euthanized 48 hours after the last dose, and organs and plasma were harvested for further analysis.

The ISIS oligonucleotides tested are presented in the Table below. ‘Unconjugated parent ISIS No.’ refers to the ISIS oligonucleotide described in the in vitro studies above with the same sequence. ‘3′-THA counterpart ISIS No.’ refers to the 3′THA conjugated oligonucleotide with the same sequence and described in the transgenic mice study above.

TABLE 38 ISIS oligonucleotides tested in CD1 mice tolerability study Uncon- jugated 3′-THA parent counter- SEQ ISIS ISIS part ID No. No. ISIS No Sequence NO 845219 466847 863413 GAGGTATCCCCGGCGG 1096 863577 848584 863434 ACGGACATCGGCACAT  377 863579 848593 863436 AGCTCAATAAAAGTCA  763 863637 848849 863494 CAAATTATAGCAGCCA 1017 863682 849239 863539 GAAGACGGAGTAAGGC 1352 Plasma Chemistry Markers

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on liver and kidney function, plasma levels of transaminases, bilirubin, creatinine, and BUN were measured using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer (Hitachi Olympus AU400e, Melville, N.Y.).

The results are presented in the Table below. ISIS oligonucleotides that caused changes in the levels of any of the liver or kidney function markers outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides were excluded in further studies.

TABLE 39 Plasma chemistry markers in CD1 mice plasma at Day 45 Dose ALT AST ALB BUN CRE TBIL (mg/kg) (IU/L) (IU/L) (g/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) PBS — 26 62 2.5 19.5 0.08 0.18 845219 5 96 64 2.4 19.3 0.08 0.15 15 187 115 2.3 22.0 0.07 0.17 863577 5 176 160 2.5 17.2 0.09 0.13 15 621 492 2.5 15.6 0.10 0.20 863579 5 50 50 2.5 19.9 0.10 0.13 15 87 70 2.4 20.3 0.11 0.13 863637 5 321 301 1.7 19.3 0.05 0.19 15 508 472 2.4 20.5 0.09 0.22 863682 5 306 156 2.3 20.0 0.06 0.13 15 373 212 2.4 21.0 0.06 0.14 Hematology Assays

Blood obtained from all mice groups were analyzed for RBC, WBC, platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocyte counts, as well as hemoglobin, HCT and MCV levels. The results are presented in the Table below. ISIS oligonucleotides that caused changes in the levels of any of the hematology markers outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides were excluded in further studies.

TABLE 40 Blood cell count in CD1 mice at Day 45 Dose RBC Platelets WBC Neutrophils Lymphocytes Monocytes (mg/kg) (×10⁶/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) PBS — 9.4 1218 8.8 13 7078 367 845219 5 9.4 1349 7.2 13 5749 444 15 9.3 1263 7.2 13 5664 511 863577 5 9.2 1401 8.0 17 5851 650 15 8.2 1299 10.0 10 7718 1034 863579 5 10.0 1252 9.0 16 6876 587 15 9.6 1256 8.2 11 6645 415 863637 5 9.0 956 5.7 14 4266 448 15 9.3 843 6.8 13 5044 696 863682 5 9.4 1040 5.9 13 4581 447 15 9.0 800 8.3 8 6757 694

TABLE 41 Hematology markers in CD1 mice at Day 45 Dose Hemoglobin HCT MCV (mg/kg) (g/dL) (%) (fL) PBS — 14.1 45 48 845219 5 14.2 45 49 15 13.8 43 46 863577 5 13.9 45 49 15 12.2 39 48 863579 5 14.9 47 48 15 15.3 48 50 863637 5 13.5 42 47 15 13.8 43 47 863682 5 14.5 45 48 15 13.6 43 48 Body and Organ Weight Measurements

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on the overall health of the animals, body and organ weights were measured. Body weights were measured every week and are presented in the Table below. Organ weights were measured and the data is also presented in the Table below. The results indicate that effect of treatment with the antisense oligonucleotides on body and organ weights was within the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides.

TABLE 42 Body weights (g) in CD1 mice Dose Baseline Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 (mg/kg) (day 1) (day 8) (day 15) (day 22) (day 29) (day 36) (day 42) PBS — 27 30 32 32 33 35 35 845219 5 28 33 34 35 37 40 39 15 29 33 34 35 36 38 38 863577 5 26 31 32 33 34 37 35 15 27 31 31 32 34 36 35 863579 5 28 32 33 32 36 38 36 15 27 32 33 32 36 38 37 863637 5 28 33 34 35 36 37 38 15 27 32 34 34 36 38 38 863682 5 26 32 33 32 35 37 36 15 27 31 32 33 34 36 36

TABLE 43 Organ weights (g) in CD1 mice Dose (mg/kg) Liver Spleen Kidney PBS — 1.84 0.08 0.50 845219 5 2.42 0.13 0.54 15 2.41 0.15 0.54 863577 5 2.47 0.11 0.58 15 2.62 0.15 0.59 863579 5 2.53 0.13 0.57 15 2.82 0.12 0.54 863637 5 2.38 0.17 0.52 15 2.67 0.22 0.58 863682 5 1.79 0.11 0.54 15 2.13 0.21 0.53

Example 6: Tolerability of ISIS Oligonucleotides Targeting Human PCSK9 in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Sprague-Dawley rats are a multipurpose model used for safety and efficacy evaluations. The rats were treated with ISIS antisense oligonucleotides from the studies described in the Examples above and evaluated for changes in the levels of various plasma chemistry markers.

Treatment

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on a 12-hour light/dark cycle and fed ad libitum with Purina normal rat chow, diet 5001. Groups of 4 Sprague-Dawley rats each were injected subcutaneously once a week for 6 weeks with 15 mg/kg of ISIS oligonucleotide. Forty eight hours after the last dose, rats were euthanized and organs and plasma were harvested for further analysis.

Liver Function

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on hepatic function, plasma levels of transaminases were measured using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer (Hitachi Olympus AU400e, Melville, N.Y.). Plasma levels of ALT (alanine transaminase) and AST (aspartate transaminase) were measured and the results are presented in the Table below expressed in IU/L. Plasma levels of bilirubin (TBIL), BUN, albumin (ALB), and creatinine (CRE) were also measured using the same clinical chemistry analyzer and the results are also presented in the Table below expressed in mg/dL. Plasma levels of albumin were also measured using the same clinical chemistry analyzer and the results are also presented in the Table below expressed in g/dL.

TABLE 44 Liver function markers in Sprague-Dawley rats ALT AST ALB BUN CRE TBIL (IU/L) (IU/L) (g/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) (mg/dL) PBS 20 64 3.1 13 0.2 0.1 863568 40 70 3.5 14 0.2 0.2 863576 39 94 3.7 16 0.3 0.1 863579 33 91 3.3 14 0.2 0.1 863581 36 154 2.8 18 0.3 0.2 863582 38 122 2.9 20 0.3 0.1 863587 38 87 3.0 12 0.2 0.1 863633 26 78 3.0 16 0.3 0.1 863655 27 84 3.1 15 0.2 0.1 863670 30 91 3.2 15 0.2 0.1 863681 29 81 3.2 14 0.2 0.1 Kidney Function

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on kidney function, urine levels of blood creatinine and total protein were measured using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer (Hitachi Olympus AU400e, Melville, N.Y.). Results are presented in the Table below, expressed in mg/dL. ISIS oligonucleotides that caused changes in the levels of any of the kidney function markers outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides were excluded in further studies. ‘N/A’ indicates that data is not available for that group.

TABLE 45 Kidney function markers (mg/dL) in Sprague-Dawley rats CRE TP (mg/dL) (mg/dL) PBS 79 59 863568 111 137 863576 N/A N/A 863579 93 117 863581 54 75 863582 71 91 863587 64 86 863633 100 85 863655 85 117 863670 89 104 863681 144 142 Body and Organ Weights

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on the overall health of the animals, body and organ weights were measured. Body weights were measured every week and are presented in the Table below. Organ weights were measured and the data is also presented in the Table below. The results indicate that effect of treatment with antisense oligonucleotides on body and organ weights was within the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides.

TABLE 46 Body weights (g) Baseline Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 (day 1) (day 8) (day 15) (day 22) (day 29) (day 36) (day 43) PBS 201 267 344 389 433 451 470 863568 200 265 334 371 404 419 435 863576 272 327 361 389 417 424 435 863579 264 313 357 379 407 420 430 863581 195 258 329 361 397 411 430 863582 204 273 350 387 423 440 458 863587 205 273 353 398 439 459 474 863633 271 319 361 377 401 406 417 863655 195 256 330 366 406 417 435 863670 189 249 319 351 384 394 406 863681 275 312 364 386 415 426 435

TABLE 47 Organ weights (g) Liver Spleen Kidney PBS 12 0.8 3.4 863568 16 1.2 3.3 863576 12 1.3 3.0 863579 11 1.0 3.0 863581 13 2.0 3.1 863582 14 2.1 3.5 863587 14 1.1 3.4 863633 12 1.6 3.2 863655 11 1.7 3.4 863670 12 1.0 2.9 863681 12 1.1 3.3

Example 7: Effect of Antisense Inhibition of PCSK9 in Transgenic Mouse Model

A transgenic mouse model developed at UCI and has never been described in the literature. The human PCSK9 genomic construct contained in fosmid ABC7-611722G24 was restricted with Nhe1 to produce a DNA fragment containing the entire genomic sequence as well as 8 Kb of 5′ and 0.4 Kb of 3′ noncoding sequence. PCSK9 transgenic mice were produced by random insertion via micronucleus injection. Progeny expressed human PCSK9 mRNA in the liver and secreted human PCSK9 plasma protein.

Treatment

Transgenic mice were maintained on a 12-hour light/dark cycle and were fed ad libitum normal Purina mouse chow. Animals were acclimated for at least 7 days in the research facility before initiation of the experiment. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) were prepared in buffered saline (PBS) and sterilized by filtering through a 0.2 micron filter. Oligonucleotides were dissolved in 0.9% PBS for injection.

The Tg mice were divided into 27 groups of 3 mice each. Groups received subcutaneous injections of ISIS oligonucleotide at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg, 1.00 mg/kg, or 5.00 mg/kg once per week for 4 weeks. One group of 4 mice received subcutaneous injections of PBS once per week for 4 weeks. The saline-injected group served as the control group to which oligonucleotide-treated groups were compared.

RNA Analysis

On day 26, RNA was extracted from liver for real-time PCR analysis of measurement of mRNA expression of PCSK9. Results are presented as percent change of mRNA, relative to PBS control, normalized with RIBOGREEN®. As shown in the Table below, treatment with ISIS antisense oligonucleotides resulted in significant reduction of PCSK9 mRNA in comparison to the PBS control.

TABLE 48 Percent inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA in the transgenic mice liver relative to the PBS control Weekly Dose % (mg/kg) Inhibition ED₅₀ 863568 0.25 26 0.5 1 76 5 95 863579 0.25 9 1.4 1 41 5 84 863581 0.25 12 0.6 1 73 5 80 863582 0.25 32 0.5 1 71 5 91 863587 0.25 27 0.5 1 71 5 87 863633 0.25 60 0.2 1 96 5 99 863655 0.25 37 0.3 1 94 5 99 863670 0.25 0 1.0 1 62 5 87 863681 0.25 25 0.9 1 45 5 94 Protein Analysis

PCSK9 plasma protein was measured by a human-specific ELISA kit (R&D Systems). Results are presented as percent change of protein levels, relative to PBS control. As shown in the Table below, treatment with ISIS antisense oligonucleotides resulted in significant reduction of PCSK9 plasma protein levels in comparison to the PBS control.

TABLE 49 Percent inhibition of PCSK9 plasma protein in the transgenic mice relative to the PBS control Weekly Dose % (mg/kg) Inhibition ED₅₀ 863568 0.25 37 0.4 1 74 5 97 863579 0.25 5 1.5 1 41 5 81 863581 0.25 31 0.6 1 59 5 91 863582 0.25 25 0.5 1 73 5 95 863587 0.25 33 0.4 1 77 5 93 863633 0.25 50 0.3 1 97 5 99 863655 0.25 44 0.3 1 93 5 99 863670 0.25 23 1.6 1 38 5 72 863681 0.25 28 0.8 1 54 5 89 LDL-Cholesterol Levels

Levels of LDL-cholesterol in the plasma were measured by an automated clinical chemistry analyzer (Hitachi Olympus AU400e, Melville, N.Y.). Levels of LDL receptor (LDLr) protein in the liver were also measured. Results are presented as percent change of levels, relative to PBS control. As shown in the Table below, treatment with several ISIS antisense oligonucleotides resulted in significant reduction of levels of LDL-cholesterol in the plasma in comparison to the PBS control. Correspondingly, it was observed that treatment with ISIS antisense oligonucleotides resulted in dose-dependent liver LDLr protein increases in the mice.

TABLE 50 Inhibition of LDL-cholesterol levels in the plasma relativeto the PBS control Weekly Dose % (mg/kg) inhibition 863568 0.25 7 1 41 5 59 863579 0.25 0 1 15 5 33 863581 0.25 30 1 17 5 41 863582 0.25 23 1 28 5 50 863587 0.25 20 1 38 5 38 863633 0.25 27 1 66 5 71 863655 0.25 29 1 58 5 74 863670 0.25 19 1 0 5 39 863681 0.25 21 1 23 5 35

TABLE 51 Percent increase of liver LDLr in the transgenic mice relative to the PBS control Weekly Dose % (mg/kg) increase 863568 0.25 3 1 61 5 245 863579 0.25 −46 1 −5 5 132 863581 0.25 −44 1 6 5 73 863582 0.25 −19 1 93 5 191 863587 0.25 −6 1 −10 5 95 863633 0.25 −22 1 131 5 269 863655 0.25 0 1 129 5 207 863670 0.25 9 1 81 5 78 863681 0.25 123 1 360 5 222

Example 8: Measurement of Viscosity of Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting Human PCSK9

The viscosity of select antisense oligonucleotides from the studies described above was measured with the aim of screening out antisense oligonucleotides which have a viscosity of more than 40 centipoise (cP). Oligonucleotides having a viscosity greater than 40 cP would have less than optimal viscosity.

Oligonucleotides (32-35 mg) were weighed into a glass vial, 120 μL of water was added and the antisense oligonucleotide was dissolved into solution by heating the vial at 50° C. Part (75 μL) of the pre-heated sample was pipetted to a micro-viscometer (Cambridge). The temperature of the micro-viscometer was set to 25° C. and the viscosity of the sample was measured. Another part (20 μL) of the pre-heated sample was pipetted into 10 mL of water for UV reading at 260 nM at 85° C. (Cary UV instrument). The results are presented in the Table below, where the concentration of each antisense oligonucleotide was 350 mg/ml, and indicate that all the antisense oligonucleotides solutions were optimal in their viscosity under the criterion stated above.

TABLE 52 Viscosity of antisense oligonucleotides targeting human PCSK9 Viscosity Concentration ISIS No (cP) (mg/mL) 863568 39 325 863576 20 325 863579 19 325 863581 25 300 863582 17 300 863587 14 325 863633 12 325 863655 10 325 863670 21 325 863681 15 325

Example 9: Effect of ISIS Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting Human PCSK9 in Cynomolgus Monkeys

Cynomolgus monkeys were treated with ISIS antisense oligonucleotides selected from studies described in the Examples above. Antisense oligonucleotide efficacy and tolerability, as well as their pharmacokinetic profile in the liver and kidney, were evaluated.

At the time this study was undertaken, the cynomolgus monkey genomic sequence was not available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database; therefore, cross-reactivity with the cynomolgus monkey gene sequence could not be confirmed. Instead, the sequences of the ISIS antisense oligonucleotides used in the cynomolgus monkeys was compared to a rhesus monkey sequence for homology. It is expected that ISIS oligonucleotides with homology to the rhesus monkey sequence are fully cross-reactive with the cynomolgus monkey sequence as well. The human antisense oligonucleotides tested are cross-reactive with the rhesus genomic sequence (the complement of GENBANK Accession No. NW_005092960.1 truncated from nucleotides 83474000 to 83501000, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 1544). The greater the complementarity between the human oligonucleotide and the rhesus monkey sequence, the more likely the human oligonucleotide can cross-react with the rhesus monkey sequence. The start and stop sites of each oligonucleotide to SEQ ID NO: 1544 is presented in the Table below. “Start site” indicates the 5′-most nucleotide to which the gapmer is targeted in the rhesus monkey gene sequence.

TABLE 53 Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the rhesus PCSK9 genomic sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1544) Target Target Start Stop SEQ ID ISIS No Site Mismatches Site NO 863568 25252 1 25267 1528 863579 25510 2 25525 763 863581 25520 1 25535 1071 863582 25521 1 25536 1147 863587 25712 2 25727 1149 863633 3911 0 3926 1016 863655 10464 1 10479 995 863670 15306 0 15321 1195 863681 17270 0 17285 353 Treatment

Prior to the study, the monkeys were kept in quarantine during which the animals were observed daily for general health. The monkeys were 2-4 years old and weighed 2-4 kg. Nine groups of 5 randomly assigned male cynomolgus monkeys each were injected subcutaneously with ISIS oligonucleotide or PBS in clockwise rotation between four different sites on the backs of the monkeys (i.e. left, right, top, and bottom) on each day of dosing; one site per dose. The monkeys were dosed twice a week (days 1, 5, 9, and 14) for the first two weeks, and then subsequently once a week for 10 weeks (days 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, and 84) with 10 mg/kg of ISIS oligonucleotide. A control group of 5 cynomolgus monkeys was injected with PBS in a similar manner and served as the control group.

During the study period, the monkeys were observed twice daily for signs of illness or distress. Any animal experiencing more than momentary or slight pain or distress due to the treatment, injury or illness was treated by the veterinary staff with approved analgesics or agents to relieve the pain after consultation with the Study Director. Any animal in poor health or in a possible moribund condition was identified for further monitoring and possible euthanasia. Scheduled euthanasia of the animals was conducted on day 86 approximately 48 hours post-dose by exsanguination while under deep anesthesia. The protocols described in the Example were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Target Reduction

RNA Analysis

On day 86, RNA was extracted from liver for real-time PCR analysis of measurement of mRNA expression of PCSK9. Results are presented as percent change of mRNA, relative to PBS control, normalized with RIBOGREEN®. As shown in the Table below, treatment with ISIS antisense oligonucleotides, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681, which had no mismatches with the rhesus gene, resulted in significant reduction of PCSK9 mRNA in comparison to the PBS control.

TABLE 54 Percent inhibition of PCSK9 mRNA in the cynomolgus monkey liver relative to the PBS control % inhibition 863655 46 863633 88 863568 74 863579 35 863582 55 863581 53 863587 36 863670 84 863681 87 Protein Analysis

Approximately 1 mL of blood was collected from all available animals on day −7 (pre-treatment), Days 16, 30, 58, and 86 (approximately 48 hours post-dose on Days 14, 28, 56, and 84, respectively) and placed in tubes containing the potassium salt of EDTA. The tubes were centrifuged (3000 rpm for 10 min at 4° C.) to obtain plasma. The results are presented in the Table below as a percentage increase or decrease over the levels at Day −7 (pre-treatment levels). As shown in the Table below, treatment with ISIS antisense oligonucleotides, ISIS 863633, ISIS 863670, and ISIS 863681, which had no mismatches with the rhesus gene, resulted in significant reduction of PCSK9 protein levels.

Liver tissue was also analyzed for levels of LDL receptor (LDLr) protein induction levels. The results are presented in the Table below. The data demonstrates that treatment with the three antisense oligonucleotides that are homologous to the rhesus monkey genomic sequence resulted in hepatic LDLr protein induction after 12 weeks of treatment.

TABLE 55 Plasma protein levels (% of pre-treatment levels) in the cynomolgus monkey Day 16 Day 30 Day 86 PBS 34 36 18 863655 −13 −2 −36 863633 −90 −91 −91 863568 −19 −14 −22 863579 34 36 18 863582 8 2 35 863581 16 8 11 863587 −3 1 −12 863670 −79 −83 −86 863681 −80 −82 −86

TABLE 56 Hepatic LDLr protein levels (% of PBS control) in the cynomolgus monkey % increase 863655 98 863633 399 863568 243 863579 163 863582 115 863581 156 863587 158 863670 521 863681 417 Plasma Lipid Levels

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on total cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, monkeys were fasted overnight prior to blood collection. Approximately 1.7 mL of blood samples were collected from all the study groups. Blood was collected in tubes without anticoagulant for serum separation. The tubes were kept at room temperature for a minimum of 90 minutes and then centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes at room temperature to obtain serum. Levels were measured using a Toshiba 200FR NEO chemistry analyzer (Toshiba Co., Japan). The data demonstrates that treatment with the three antisense oligonucleotides with homology with the rhesus monkey genomic sequence resulted in significant reduction of plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. As expected, reduction of human PCSK9 levels did not affect plasma HDL-cholesterol or triglyceride levels.

TABLE 57 Plasma lipid levels (mg/dL) in cynomolgus monkey on Day 86 Total LDL- HDL- cholesterol cholesterol cholesterol Triglycerides PBS 146 37 110 71 863655 152 73 71 46 863633 115 17 99 57 863568 128 32 99 51 863579 109 44 71 45 863582 137 38 103 37 863581 174 51 122 34 863587 140 45 102 35 863670 95 17 83 45 863681 109 19 99 29 Tolerability Studies Clinical Chemistry Parameters

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on hepatic function, monkeys were fasted overnight prior to blood collection. Approximately 1.7 mL of blood samples were collected from all the study groups. Blood was collected in tubes without anticoagulant for serum separation. The tubes were kept at room temperature for a minimum of 90 minutes and then centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes at room temperature to obtain serum. Levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and albumin (ALB) were measured using a Toshiba 200FR NEO chemistry analyzer (Toshiba Co., Japan). The results indicate that antisense oligonucleotides had no effect on liver function outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides. Specifically, ISIS 863633 was observed to be well tolerated.

TABLE 58 Plasma Chemistry markers in cynomolgus monkey on Day 86 ALT AST Bilirubin ALB (IU/L) (IU/L) (mg/dL) (g/dL) PBS 65 64 0.2 4.1 863655 63 59 0.3 3.5 863633 47 70 0.3 4.0 863568 44 64 0.3 4.1 863579 50 52 0.2 4.1 863582 42 57 0.2 4.2 863581 55 61 0.3 4.2 863587 110 76 0.3 3.9 863670 42 64 0.3 4.1 863681 62 60 0.3 4.1 Kidney Function

To evaluate the effect of ISIS oligonucleotides on kidney function, monkeys were fasted overnight prior to blood collection. Approximately 1.7 mL of blood samples were collected from all the study groups. Blood was collected in tubes without anticoagulant for serum separation. The tubes were kept at room temperature for a minimum of 90 minutes and then centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes at room temperature to obtain serum. Levels of BUN and creatinine were measured using a Toshiba 200FR NEO chemistry analyzer (Toshiba Co., Japan). Results are presented in the Table below, expressed in mg/dL.

The plasma chemistry data indicate that most of the ISIS oligonucleotides did not have any effect on the kidney function outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides. Specifically, ISIS 863633 was observed to be well tolerated.

TABLE 59 Plasma BUN and creatinine levels (mg/dL) in cynomolgus monkeys at day 86 BUN Creatinine PBS 31 0.8 863655 26 0.8 863633 27 0.8 863568 27 0.9 863579 24 0.8 863582 24 0.8 863581 27 0.8 863587 24 0.8 863670 26 1.0 863681 23 0.8 Hematology

To evaluate any effect of ISIS oligonucleotides in cynomolgus monkeys on hematologic parameters, approximately 0.5 mL of blood was collected from each of the available study animals in tubes containing K₂-EDTA. Samples were analyzed for red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cells (WBC) count, individual white blood cell counts, such as that of monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, as well as for platelet count, hemoglobin content and hematocrit, using an ADVIA120 hematology analyzer (Bayer, USA). The data is presented in the Tables below.

The data indicate the oligonucleotides did not cause any changes in hematologic parameters outside the expected range for antisense oligonucleotides at this dose. Specifically, ISIS 863633 was observed to be well tolerated.

TABLE 60 Blood cell counts in cynomolgus monkeys on day 86 RBC Platelets WBC Neutrophils Lymphocytes Monocytes (×10⁶/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) (×10³/μL) PBS 5.5 340 9.0 3.1 5.4 0.3 863655 5.6 361 9.7 3.7 5.4 0.3 863633 5.6 395 11.4 4.5 6.5 0.3 863568 5.8 409 12.1 602 5.4 0.3 863579 5.9 390 8.0 2.2 5.3 0.3 863582 5.6 333 8.9 3.0 5.5 0.3 863581 5.8 382 8.2 2.4 5.3 0.3 863587 6.0 348 8.8 2.3 6.0 0.2 863670 5.4 417 10.7 4.3 5.9 0.3 863681 5.6 408 9.0 3.1 5.5 0.2

TABLE 61 Hematologic parameters in cynomolgus monkeys on day 86 Hemoglobin HCT (g/dL) (%) PBS 12.8 45 863655 13.0 43 863633 12.9 43 863568 13.0 44 863579 13.5 46 863582 12.4 43 863581 13.0 44 863587 13.5 46 863670 12.7 43 863681 12.7 43

Overall, the results of the study indicate that ISIS 863633 is the most potent and well tolerated compound of those tested for inhibiting PCSK9 and is an important candidate for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, specifically for lowering LDL-cholesterol levels.

Example 10: Comparative Inhibition of Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting Human PCSK9 in a Dose Response Assay

The unconjugated parent oligonucleotides of the antisense oligonucleotides tested in the monkey study were compared with previously designed compounds. ISIS 848542, ISIS 848593, ISIS 848597, ISIS 848598, ISIS 848630, ISIS 848833, ISIS 849040, ISIS 849171, and ISIS 849236 were tested for efficacy with ISIS 405879 and ISIS 405995, which have previously been determined to be some of the most potent antisense compounds in vitro (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,084,437), as well as ISIS 431131 and ISIS 480604, which have been previously described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,127,276.

Cells were plated at a density of 10,000 cells per well and 39.1 nM, 156.25 nM, 625 nM, 2,500 nM, and 10,000 nM concentrations of antisense oligonucleotide was added to the medium for free uptake of oligonucleotide by the cells. After a treatment period of approximately 48 hours, RNA was isolated from the cells and PCSK9 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Human PCSK9 primer probe set from ABI (ID# Hs03037355_m1) was used to measure mRNA levels. PCSK9 mRNA levels were adjusted according to total RNA content, as measured by RIBOGREEN®. Results are presented as percent inhibition of PCSK9, relative to untreated control cells.

The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each oligonucleotide is also presented. PCSK9 mRNA levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner in antisense oligonucleotide treated cells. ISIS 848542, ISIS 848593, ISIS 848597, ISIS 848598, ISIS 848630, ISIS 848833, ISIS 849040, ISIS 849171, and ISIS 849236 demonstrated superior efficacy compared to all previously disclosed oligonucleotides.

TABLE 62 39.1 156.25 625.0 2500.0 10000.0 IC₅₀ ISIS No nM nM nM nM nM (μM) 405879 0 0 0 0 0 >10 405995 0 0 0 0 0 >10 431131 0 3 0 0 5 >10 480604 0 1 19 31 36 >10 848542 9 37 70 83 88 0.4 848593 19 36 51 53 69 1.1 848597 41 67 78 86 91 0.04 848598 41 64 76 85 90 0.1 848630 0 17 59 79 85 0.9 848833 4 66 88 93 94 0.2 849040 41 93 98 99 98 <0.03 849171 0 52 86 94 96 0.3 849236 0 26 71 89 95 0.6 

What is claimed:
 1. A compound according to the following formula (SEQ ID NO: 1016):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising a modified oligonucleotide and a conjugate group, wherein the modified oligonucleotide is 16 linked nucleosides in length and has the nucleobase sequence consisting of the nucleobase sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1016, wherein the modified oligonucleotide has a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides; a 5′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; and a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment and the 3′ wing segment, wherein each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises a cEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage; wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.
 3. The compound of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is a sodium salt.
 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is a potassium salt.
 5. A composition comprising the compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 6. A compound consisting of a modified oligonucleotide, wherein the modified oligonucleotide is 16 linked nucleosides in length and consists of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1016, wherein the modified oligonucleotide consists of a gap segment consisting of ten linked deoxynucleosides; a 5′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; and a 3′ wing segment consisting of three linked nucleosides; wherein the gap segment is positioned between the 5′ wing segment and the 3′ wing segment, wherein each nucleoside of each wing segment comprises a cEt sugar; wherein each internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage; and wherein each cytosine is a 5-methylcytosine.
 7. The compound of claim 2, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is a sodium salt.
 8. The compound of claim 2, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is a potassium salt.
 9. A composition comprising the compound of claim 2, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 10. The compound of claim 2, wherein the conjugate group is 5′-Trishexylamino-(THA)-C₆GalNAC3 and is linked to the modified oligonucleotide at the 5′ end of the modified oligonucleotide. 